Ferny Hollow and Bob Olinger among latest Cheltenham Festival entries

Ferny Hollow, Run Wild Fred, Galopin Des Champs and Bob Olinger lead Ireland’s formidable list of contenders for the novices chases at the Cheltenham Festival, for which entries were revealed on Tuesday.

The four horses are favourites for the Sporting Life Arkle, National Hunt Novices’ Chase, Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and Turners Novices’ Chase, and further highlight the challenges facing British opposition from Irish-trained runners.

2022 Cheltenham Festival: big-race entries

A total of 163 horses have been entered for the four contests, a drop of 30 compared to the same stage last year. The National Hunt Chase (5.30, March 15) has the largest number of entries with 48.

The Arkle (2.10, March 15) has attracted the smallest entry with 24 horses engaged, half of which are trained in Ireland. They include Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase winner Ferny Hollow, Blue Lord and Haut En Couleurs from the Willie Mullins yard. Edwardstone is the leading British hope.

Ahoy Senor, who had been a 14-1 shot for the National Hunt Novices' Chase, does not feature in the entries for the race, instead being one of 47 entries for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (2.10, March 16).

Threeunderthrufive: entered in the Brown Advisory and National Hunt ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Threeunderthrufive, winner of the Hampton Novices' Chase at Warwick on Saturday, is entered for both races, while Bob Olinger has the option of the Turners Novices' Chase (1.30, March 17), for which he is even-money favourite, or the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.

No trainer has made more entries than Willie Mullins, who has 42 engagements across the four races.

Sporting Life Arkle Novices’ Chase

Bet365: 6-4 Ferny Hollow, 4 Edwardstone, 5 Blue Lord, 10 Haut En Couleurs, 12 Riviere D’Etel, 20 bar.

National Hunt Novices’ Chase

Sky Bet: 4 Run Wild Fred, Stattler, 7 Capodanno, 10 Vanillier, 12 En Baton, Threeunderthrufive, The Bosses Oscar, 14 bar

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

William Hill: 5-4 Galopin Des Champs, 4 Bravemansgame, 6 Bob Olinger, 8 Ahoy Senor, 10 Capodanno, Fury Road, 12 L’Homme Presse, 14 bar

Turners Novices’ Chase

Paddy Power: Evens Bob Olinger, 7 L’Homme Presse, 8 Galopin Des Champs, 10 Bravemansgame, Haut En Couleurs, 12 Jungle Boogie, 14 bar

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