cheltenham novice entries

OVER 350 entries have been made for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, JCB Triumph Hurdle and Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with the goliath Willie Mullins stable responsible for 64 of those.

Mullins has the favourite for three of the four Grade 1 novice hurdles at Cheltenham with Vautour (Supreme), Faugheen (Neptune) and Ivan Grozny (Triumph Hurdle) while Briar Hill is second favourite for the Albert Bartlett Hurdle behind the David Pipe-trained Kings Palace.

In total there are 104 entries for the Neptune, 102 for the Supreme, 81 for the Albert Bartlett and 65 for the Triumph Hurdle.

Apache Stronghold is among the runners engaged in the Neptune and trainer Noel Meade is hoping the six-year-old can make it to Cheltenham despite a setback at Christmas.

"All going well, Apache Stronghold will go for the Neptune," Meade said. "He had a setback after Christmas and it has taken a while to get him back, so won't be able to get another run into him. We don't want to rush him and it's just a case of seeing if we can get him back up to that level.

"I won't run him unless I'm 100 per cent happy because there is always Aintree, Fairyhouse or Punchestown, but the plan is to run at Cheltenham if he's right. He's a gorgeous a horse and we think he's right up there with the best around, so hopefully we can get him there."

Meade is also hopeful of making a mark in the Albert Bartlett with Wounded Warrior and added: "Wounded Warrior is likely to go for the Albert Bartlett. He ran a nice race at Leopardstown at the weekend [when fourth], but it was a very stop, start race and that didn't suit him at all. He will definitely be better over further and three miles won't be a problem."

In the Triumph Hurdle, multiple champion Flat trainer Aidan O'Brien could be represented by Plinth.