Last year's winner See More Business headed 44 entries revealed today for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The 10-year-old, fresh from his second success in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton last month, will be bidding to become the first horse to land a repeat victory in the race since L'Escargot in 1971.
His trainer Paul Nicholls has put four in the March 16 race, including Double Thriller who finished fourth in 1999.
Eight of the first nine finishers last year are engaged again. Teeton Mill, unraced since pulled up with a career-threatening injury when second favourite for the event 12 months ago, is part of Venetia Williams' four-strong team.
Ireland has a record nine entries, headed by 1996 winner Imperial Call, the 1997 and 1998 third Dorans Pride, last year's third Florida Pearl and top novice Alexander Banquet.
Cheltenham managing director Edward Gillespie said: "It is very encouraging to have a record Irish entry in Britain's leading chase, emphasising the importance of Irish trainers, owners, jockeys, stable staff and racegoers to the Cheltenham Festival."
Martin Pipe has four in the race, including leading novice Gloria Victis and high-class hurdler Deano's Beeno.
His lightly-raced but highly-regarded Hanakham is among the most notable omissions, along with former stable-companion Unsinkable Boxer whose current trainer Francois Doumen relies on Djeddah and Fulip.
Entries: Alexander Banquet (trained by W Mullins, Ireland), Bitofamixup (M Roberts), Brother Of Iris (Mrs M Reveley), Buck Rogers (V Bowens, Ireland), Castle Mane (Mrs C Bailey), Collier Bay (J Old), Courlis Pontet (P Nicholls), Danoli (T Foley, Ireland), Deano's Beeno (M Pipe), Djeddah (F Doumen, France), Dorans Pride (M Hourigan, Ireland), Double Thriller (P Nicholls), Dr Leunt (P Hobbs), Edelweis Du Moulin (Miss V Williams), Escartefigue (P Nicholls), Ever Blessed (M Pitman), Florida Pearl (W Mullins, Ireland), Fulip (F Doumen, France), Gloria Victis (M Pipe), Go Ballistic (A King), His Song (M Morris, Ireland), Imperial Call (R Hurley, Ireland), Kadou Nonantais (O Sherwood), Lake Kariba (Miss V Williams), Legal Right (J J O'Neill), Looks Like Trouble (N Chance), Macgeorge (R Lee), Mulligan (A King), Pain Royal (Miss V Williams), Rince Ri (T Walsh, Ireland), See More Business (P Nicholls), Senor El Betrutti (Mrs S Nock), Simply Dashing (T Easterby), Spendid (A King), Stormyfairweather (N Henderson), Strong Promise (G Hubbard), Strong Tel (M Pipe), Sydney Two Thousand (N Meade, Ireland), Teeton Mill (Miss V Williams), The Grey Monk (N Richards), The Last Fling (Mrs S Smith), Tresor De Mai (M Pipe), Tullymurry Toff (M Jefferson), Young Kenny (P Beaumont). (44)
