TWENTY horses remain in the Magners Gold Cup at the first scratching stage on February 11st with five Irish runners removed from the race: Balko Des Flos, Bellshill, Road To Respect, Discorama and Sizing John. Also taken out were Hennessy winner De Rasher Counter, Kauto Riko, Cepage, the Grade 1-winning novice mare La Bague Au Roi, Mister Whitaker and Top Ville Ben. It leaves 11 Irish-trained still in the blue riband to take on nine from Britain.

A wide open Unibet Champion Hurdle still has the largest field of the Grade 1 championship races with 31 entries remaining following the scratchings deadline. The field still includes the two Gordon Elliott-trained novices, Abacadabras and Envoi Allen, along with Samco. Willie Mullins, as reported, has taken out Klassical Dream and Saldier, and Monsieur Lecoq, Pacify and Thebannerkingrebel have also been removed.

Champion Chase

The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase still has a field of 18 entries with half of them coming from Ireland but the Mullins pair Douvan and Footpad are not among them. Also scratched are Henry De Bromhead’s Ordinary World and Ornua along with Capeland, Cyrname, Diego Du Charmil, Fox Norton, Janika, Kalashnikov, Riders Onthe Storm, Simply Ned, Waiting Patiently who will also not line up on March 11th.

A total of 15 horses have been scratched from the Ryanair Chase, the most high profile being the Champion Chase contender Defi Du Seuil who is now committed to taking on Altior and Chacun Pour Soi.

Balko Des Flos, Count Meribel, Footpad, Fox Norton, Kalashnikov, Keeper Hill, La Bague Au Roi, Lalor, Mister Whitaker, Paloma Blue, Road To Respect, Top Notch, Waiting Patiently and Yorkhill are non runners.

A total of 29 entries remain to take on Paisley Park in the Stayers’ Hurdle with the 13 Irish-trained still engaged including the Mullins five Bacardys, Benie Des Dieux, Killultagh Vic, Laurina, and Penhill along with Apple’s Jade, Death Duty, Samcro and Surin from Gigginstown House. The returning-from-chasing City Island, Tom Mullins’ Court Maid, Relegate from the Colm Murphy yard, Ronald Pump, who has many entries at the Festival for Matthew Smith, and Leopardstown second The Jam Man for Ronan McNally are still engaged.

Aintree Grade 1 winner If The Cap Fits is the most high profile absentee among the 11 horses scratched along with Bright Forecast, Footpad, Goodbye Dancer, Klassical Dream, Messire Des Obeaux, Minella Indo, Not Many Left, Papagana, Sams Profile and Top Notch.