Martin Pipe dominates the entries with 10 of the 88 in the Royal and SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham on March 17th.
The champion trainer has entered Majadou, Gris D'Estruval, Lady Cricket, Potentate, Farfadet V, Royal Predica, Tresor De Mai, Unsinkable Boxer, Strong Tel and Torboy in the three-mile-one-furlong contest.
The Irish won last year's race with Florida Pearl and they have a record 16 entries in this season's renewal headed by Edward O'Grady's highly-regarded Nick Dundee.
Other interesting entries include the Oliver Sherwood-trained Kadou Nonantais, who failed by 11 lengths to concede 19lb to Majadou at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, and Henry Daly's Marlborough, an impressive winner at Kempton on Saturday for leading owner Robert Ogden.
Francois Doumen has entered Royaltino - the only French contender.
Jim Old has entered 1996 Champion Hurdle winner Collier Bay, also in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, and after the nine-yearold had won at Huntingdon last week he said: "He stayed well. He has lots of entries and there is always the SunAlliance now."
Pipe, who has won the last two Guinness Arkle Challenge Trophies with Or Royal and Champleve, has put six in the two-mile contest this time all of which are also entered in the Royal and SunAlliance. They are Gris D'Estruval, Lady Cricket, Majadou, Potentate, Royal Predica and Tresor De Mai.
Once again there is a record entry from the Irish who supply 17 of the 58 with yesterday's Leopardstown winner His Song on target for the Arkle.
Josh Gifford has entered unbeaten novice Kurakka in the £100,000 contest and with the likes of Tom Tate's Aghawadda Gold also entered there is sure to be a strong home defence.
Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham's managing director, said: "It is particularly good news that the Royal and SunAlliance Chase and the Guinness Arkle Chase have attracted record entries (for this decade), showing that chasing is doing well at the top level.
"It is also most encouraging as these are hopefully the horses that will be returning to Cheltenham over the next few years to run in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Queen Mother Champion Chase."
Guinness Arkle Challenge Trophy, Wil- liam Hill bet: 5-1 His Song, 6-1 Tresor de Mai, 10-1 Flagship Uberalles, Kurakka, Majadou, Potentate, 12-1 Aghawadda Gold, Dawn Leader, Gris d'Estruval, 20-1 bar.
Royal and SunAlliance Chase: 5-1 Nick Dundee, Unsinkable Boxer, 7-1 Majadou, 10-1 Kadou Nonontais, Lord of The River, 11-1 Spendid, 12-1 Gris D'Estruval, 16-1 bar.
