THE latest Cheltenham Festival entries have been revealed – and there are some early shocks.
Racing’s biggest meeting gets underway nine weeks today and several of the fields are starting to take shape.
If Epatante wants Cheltenham Festival glory she’ll have to do it in the Champion Hurdle
But there were eyebrows raised on Tuesday when it was revealed JP McManus’ Epatante had not been entered in the Mares’ Hurdle.
The Nicky Henderson-trained star has only been put in the Champion Hurdle.
That could leave the door open to two-time Champion Hurdle heroine Honeysuckle going to the mares’ race after she was given an entry.
However, punters could still be treated to a blockbuster between Honeysuckle and Constitution Hill after both were put in the Tuesday feature.
But Epatante – advised at 50-1 each way in the Champion Hurdle by Templegate – was one of the real surprises.
It means she will likely have to beat the likes of State Man and Vauban – both trained by Willie Mullins – to nick a place.
Constitution Hill is the giant 1-4 favourite to take the contest.
Elsewhere, there were some interesting entries in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Among them was Buzz, the former Cesarewitch hero last seen winning the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle at Ascot in November 2021.
The stunning grey suffered a hip injury and has been expertly nursed back to health.
Flooring Porter will bid for a hat-trick in the race but will take on old rivals Klassical Dream and Paisley Park, among others.
Champ, who beat Paisley in a three-mile thriller at Newbury last November, was not entered.
Entry lists
Champion Hurdle (17)
Bob Olinger
Constitution Hill
Echoes In Rain
Epatante
First Street
Honeysuckle
I Like To Move It
Jason The Militant
Knappers Hill
Love Envoi
Not So Sleepy
Pied Piper
Sharjah
Sir Gerhard
State Man
Vauban
Zanahiyr
Mares’ Hurdle (24)
Ailie Rose
Anna Bunina
Bop Bop Bobbin
Braganza
Brandy Love
Echoes In Rain
Gauloise
Get A Tonic
Holly Hartingo
Honeysuckle
Indefatigable
Lady Adare
Love Envoi
Marada
Marie’s Rock
Midnight Ginger
Molly Ollys Wishes
Queens Brook
Royale Margaux
Santa Rossa
Shewearsitwell
Skyace
Telmesomethinggirl
West Balboa
Stayers’ Hurdle (28)
Ashdale Bob
Asterion Forlonge
Beacon Edge
Blazing Khal
Botox Has
Buzz
Chacun Pour Soi
Dashel Drasher
Flooring Porter
Gelino Bello
Goshen
Haut En Couleurs
Hewick
Home By The Lee
Indefatigable
Klassical Dream
Langer Dan
Marie’s Rock
Monkfish
Paisley Park
Saint Sam
Sams Profile
Sharjah
Sir Gerhard
Sire Du Berlais
Summerville Boy
Teahupoo
Zanahiyr
