There are 12 Irish-trained horses amongst the 35 entries for the St James Palace Foxhunters Chase at Cheltenham, with a number of interesting contenders set to possibly take part.
Run over 3m2f, this is a contest in which the Irish have been particular dominant in recent years, winning every renewal from 2011 to 2016.
Zemisky, Salsify, Tammy’s Hill and On The Fringe won six contests between them, before the Paul Nicholls-trained Pacha Du Polder was successful in breaking the Irish stranglehold when taking both the 2017 and 2018 renewals.
Indeed some might say this was simply a return to form for English Foxhunters contenders, as in the 20 years prior to 2011 just Whyso May in 2006 and Elegant Lord in 1998 were trained on this side of the Irish Sea.
There are a number of interesting contenders in this years line-up including the afore mentioned Pacha Du Polder who bids to win the contest for the third year in a row. However the 12-year-old is as big as 20/1 following a heavy defeat in a Haydock Hunters Chase lately. The winner of this contest, Road To Rome looks to be a solid contender for the English having won his last four starts in Hunter Chases for Joe O’Shea.
Stand Up and Fight currently head the Irish challengers as the 3/1 favourite, having won the Down Royal Hunter Chase impressively at Christmas time, although a defeat on his last start in open company at Kilfeacle is a cause for concern to some.
Ucello Conti bids to give Gordon Elliott a first success in the race and the 11-year-old clearly is enjoying a change of discipline having won two Hunter Chases since Christmas.
Evergreen amateur rider David Maxwell will surely be hoping for a great run from Shantou Flyer following his recent wide margin win at Fontwell, while Caid Du Berlais was a very impressive winner of the Champion Hunter Chase at Punchestown last season and Rose Loxton is no stranger to success in this sphere.
The other Irish-trained entries include Aintree Foxhunters winner Balnaslow, Stratford Hunter Chase winner Chosen Dream, the Stuart Crawford-trained Coastal Tiep, Gwencily Berbas and Timewaitsfornoone represent Alan Fleming, Gerard Kelleher’s likable Mac Legend is in the line up, along with Clonmel Hunter Chase winner Sidetracked who bids to give Gearoid O'Loughlin his first Cheltenham runner, four-time open winner Some Are Lucky and the consistent Samanntom complete the Irish line-up.
See the full list of entries.
