Coneygree winning the 2015 Gold Cup© Photo Healy Racing
Irish trainers are responsible for well over half of the 32 entries in the Grade One Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup, with Britain's richest non-handicap chase worth a record £575,000 and the highlight on the fourth and final day of The Festival, Friday, March 18.
Many of the 18 Irish-trained entries, a new record (previous highest 13), are housed with champion Jump trainer Willie Mullins who is after a first victory in the extended three and a quarter mile championship contest. The County Carlow handler has eight horses in contention, headlined by the Susannah Ricci-owned duo of Djakadam runner-up last year, and dual Festival scorer Vautour
RSA Chase hero Don Poli one of nine entries for Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud, is also engaged by Mullins alongside fellow Grade One victors Sir Des Champs Boston Bob and Valseur Lido On His Own runner-up to Lord Windermere (Jim Culloty) in the 2014 renewal, and Ballycasey complete the Mullins octet.
Don Cossack heads three entries for another Irish trainer Gordon Elliott who is yet to have a runner in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup. The nine-year-old is the highest-rated chaser in training after Grade One triumphs at Aintree and Punchestown in the spring, but blotted his copybook when falling in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. Elliott has also entered exciting novice No More Heroes and Roi Du Mee
Noel Meade is doubly represented by dual Grade One scorer Road To Riches who was beaten three and a half lengths into third last year, and RSA Chase third Wounded Warrior.
Road To Riches has not run since landing the Grade Two Clonmel Oil Chase in November, while Wounded Warrior last appeared when chasing home Valseur Lido in a Grade One contest at Punchestown in April.
Meade commented: "I could not be happier with Road To Riches. We had a bit of a blood disorder and snotty nose with him at Christmas, but all is well now and the plan is to go to Leopardstown for the Irish Gold Cup (February 6).
"I felt last year that we tried to put it up to Coneygree and then Djakadam came and got us as we faded on the run-in. I think Djakadam will improve because he was a young horse last year.
"I would be really happy if I could get Road To Riches to Cheltenham in the same condition as last year. He might even improve a little bit as well because he will be a fresher horse this time around. He'd had a long season going there last year.
"I'm not sure ground is a big factor with Road To Riches. He handles soft ground and goes on good ground. You would say the ground was a help to Coneygree last year and we know Djakadam goes very well on soft ground. Those are factors that might make a difference, but we will see.
"We have just had a few muscle problems with Wounded Warrior that have held him up. He will be entered in the Grand National, Irish National and plenty of other long distance races because he wants a trip.
"He is in the Gold Cup and we will see how things go. He is a huge horse that I have always liked a lot and I am hoping he will improve. Hopefully, we can keep him right and have a good end to the season."
Carlingford Lough (John Kiely), Gilgamboa (Enda Bolger), First Lieutenant (Mouse Morris) and Morning Assembly (Pat Fahy) complete the Irish entries.
Cue Card (Colin Tizzard) heads the home challenge after an excellent campaign that has seen the rejuvenated 10-year-old win the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park and the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton Park. The latter two victories have set him up for a tilt at the new £1-million bonus offered by Jockey Club Racecourses for any horse who can win the Betfair Chase, William Hill King George VI Chase and Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup this season.
Alan King has entered impressive Hennessy Gold Cup scorer Smad Place while Saphir Du Rheu tops three entries for Britain's champion Jump trainer Paul Nicholls.
The only British-trained novice engaged is Scottish-based Seeyouatmidnight (Sandy Thomson) who produced an excellent round of jumping to win the Grade Two BetBright #realfansonly Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Coneygree became the first novice for 41 years to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2015.
Other notable names include Al Ferof (Dan Skelton), third to Cue Card on Boxing Day, 2014 RSA Chase victor O'Faolains Boy (Rebecca Curtis) and 2015 Crabbie's Grand National hero Many Clouds (Oliver Sherwood), who finished sixth last year.
