CHELTENHAM has welcomed the entries published yesterday for the two big hurdle races at March's Festival meeting.
Though the total of 50 entries in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle headed by last year's winner Collier Bay is 16 down on the initial field 12 months ago, it is the second highest in the 1990s.
And the 49 horses put in the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle, including 1996 winner Cyborgo, stands comparison with line ups for the same race during the present decade.
"We are delighted with both sets of entries," said Cheltenham, managing director Edward Gillespie. "It confirms the very open nature of both our major hurdle races.
"We are all looking forward to the clash between the established performers, like Collier Bay and Cyborgo, and the up and coming challengers."
All the ante post market leaders have been put in the Champion Hurdle, for which the most notable absentee will be 1995 winner Alderbrook who has been retired to stud due to injury.
Alderbrook was the second novice to land the prize in three years, following Royal Gait in 1992, and several leading first season hurdlers have been entered, including Boardroom Shuffle, Istabraq and Sanmartino.
And five horses have been put in the race before even jumping a hurdle in public, notably the Paul Kelleway trained Goodwood cup runner up Lear White and recent 70,000 guinea purchase Juyush who makes his debut for Jim Old at Newton Abbot today.
Mysilv's fine second in last year's Stayers' Hurdle, just two days after finishing sixth in the Champion, appears to have inspired several double entries.
Oliver Sherwood has put the dual Champion Hurdle placed Large Action in the two races and has hinted the gelding may well take his chance in both.
Others in both fields include the 1994 St Leger winner Moonax, last year's Triumph Hurdle scorer Paddy's Return and the one time smart Flat stayer Roll A Dollar.
No fewer than 14 of the Champion Hurdle entries are trained in this country, which has not lifted the prize since Dawn Run scored in 1984.
Fighting Fifth Hurdle winner Space Trucker (trained by Jessica Harrington) and AIG Champion Hurdle scorer Cockney Lad (Noel Meade) head the team.
The recent Irish record is better in the Stayers' Hurdle, thanks to victories for Dorans Pride (in 1995), Shuil Ar Aghaidh (1993), Trapper John (1990) and Galmoy (1987 and 1988).
Mouse Morris' Newbury winner What A Question and Michael Cunningham's Derrymoyle, fourth when favourite for this race last year, appear the raiding party's best hopes at this stage.
William Hill reacted to the news that top novice Istabraq had been entered for the Champion Hurdle by quoting the Aidan O'Brien trained gelding at 14 to 1.
Hills spokesman David Hood said: "We have been having a few steady inquiries for this horse since he won at Leopardstown over the Christmas period. However until now he wasn't even a definite entry.
