WILLIE MULLINS has been busy readying his awesome squad for Cheltenham Festival – with entries for three of the big races confirmed today.
Although it looks like one big player will miss out after Il Etait Temps was not included among the runners he will be sending over in March.
Having finished third in last year’s Arkle, the multiple Grade 1 winner was as short as 7-1 for the Ryanair.
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But his name was omitted altogether, while Mullins also made a late call to remove one of his runners from the Champion Chase.
The JP McManus-owned Dinoblue had been among the names in the two-mile feature.
But she was pulled a few minutes before the midday cut off.
Providing all is well with her then it’s likely she will head to the Mares’ Chase instead.
Here are all the horses Mullins has entered.
Champion Chase
Blood Destiny
Blue Lord
El Fabiolo
Energumene
Gaelic Warrior
Gentleman De Mee
Ryanair
Blood Destiny
Blue Lord
El Fabiolo
Embassy Gardens
Energumene
Fact To File
Gaelic Warrior
Gentleman De Mee
Grangeclare West
Gold Cup
Embassy Gardens
Fact To File
Galopin Des Champs
Grangeclare West
Minella Cocooner
Elsewhere, Il Est Francais was given entries in the Champion Chase, Ryanair and Gold Cup.
The superstar French jumper was just pipped by Banbridge in a thrilling King George.
While Spillane’s Tower, who finished second to Fact To File in the John Durkan, will not go in the Gold Cup.
He disappointed in the King George and will be dropped back to 2m4f for the Ryanair.
Connections of L’Homme Presse had indicated they would enter him in the Ryanair and Gold Cup but only included him in the latter.
This is the lowest number of Gold Cup entries ever, with only 19 put forward for the feature race of the week.
Perhaps Mullins’ awesome Galopin Des Champs – who was cut to evens with Paddy Power to win his third straight – has scared off rivals after his brilliant Savills Chase win over Christmas.
Below are the full list of entries for the three races.
CHAMPION CHASE
American Mike
Banbridge
Blood Destiny
Blue Lord
Boothill
Captain Guinness
Djelo
Edwardstone
El Fabiolo
Energumene
Found A Fifty
Gaelic Warrior
Gentleman de Mee
Il Est Francais
JPR One
Jonbon
Jungle Boogie
Kalif du Berlais
Libberty Hunter
Marine Nationale
Martator
Master Chewy
Matata
Quilixios
Senecia
Solness
RYANAIR
Ahoy Senor
Banbridge
Blood Destiny
Blue Lord
Conflated
Djelo
El Fabiolo
Embassy Gardens
Energumene
Envoi Allen
Fact To File
Fil Dor
Found A Fifty
Ga Law
Gaelic Warrior
Gentleman de Mee
Ginny’s Destiny
Grangeclare West
Grey Dawning
Hang In There
Heart Wood
Hitman
Il Est Francais
Il Ridoto
JPR One
Journey With Me
Jungle Boogie
Le Patron
Martator
Master Chewy
Protektorat
Spillane’s Tower
Springwell Bay
Stage Star
GOLD CUP
Ahoy Senor
Banbridge
Conflated
Corbetts Cross
Embassy Gardens
Fact To File
Galopin des Champs
Gentlemansgame
Gerri Colombe
Grangeclare West
Grey Dawning
Hewick
Il Est Francais
Jungle Boogie
L’homme Presse
Minella Cocooner
Monty’s Star
Royale Pagaille
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