Cheltenham Festival handicap entries revealed with 844 horses entered for the 10 competitive races
A TOTAL of 844 horses have been entered for the handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival, including 272 entries from Ireland.
Spread across 10 contests, the races look to be as competitive as ever.
The first handicap of the meeting is the Ultima Handicap Chase where last year's runner-up - Singlefarmpayment - is among the 83 entered.
David Pipe has trained the winner of the last two renewals with Un Temps Pour Tout and has four horses to choose from including novice Ramses De Teille.
There are a total of 78 entries for the Listed Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase on the opening day of the Festival.
Donald McCain's Testify is unbeaten in three starts this season and looks a likely type while Nicky Henderson's pair of Rather Be and Divine Spear also hold good chances.
Peregrine Run, Barney Dawn and Mount Mews are others that catch the eye.
There are 119 entries for the Coral Cup headed by the 2016 winner Diamond King from Gordon Elliott's stable.
Lanzarote Hurdle winner William Henry is entered as is Betfair Hurdle runner-up Bleu Et Rouge.
A total of 42 horses are in contention for the Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
🏇How to claim your FREE £30 horse racing bet🏇
2 Bet £10 or more on horse racing
3 Sun Bets will stick a £30 bet in your account
Trainer Patrick Kelly and owner Philip Reynolds have won the last two renewals of the Pertemps Final Network Handicap Hurdle with Mall Dini and Presenting Percy.
This year their Eagle Lion is on of 52 entries for the race.
Festival winner Tully East is one of 94 entries in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plare Handicap Chase.
The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase has attracted 77 entries where Pendra and Mall Dini could renew their rivalry having finished second and fifth last year.
Ryanair Hurdle winner Mick Jazz is one of 88 entries for the Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle.
Mullins, who has won four of the last eight renewals, has 16 possible runners including Bleu Et Rouge, Max Dynamite and Sandsend.
Latest Cheltenham Festival news
Elliott has 19 contenders in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle where there are a total of 146 entries.
Elliott won the race last year with Champagne Classic and his team is headed by Flawless Escape.
🏇How to claim your FREE £30 horse racing bet🏇
2 Bet £10 or more on horse racing
3 Sun Bets will stick a £30 bet in your account
The final race of the Festival is the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase where there are 65 horses entered including last year's winner Rock The World.
The weights for the handicaps will be revealed next Wednesday.