THE final four sets of entries were revealed for the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday. Entries have now been published for all 28 races, with weights also declared for the 10 handicaps.

Surprisingly there were only nine Irish entries in a field of 28 for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper. Despite that, Willie Mullins, successful in this race a record eight times but not since 2013, is responsible for the top two in the market - Blackbow and Hollowgraphic. The Irish champion trainer is responsible for seven of the nine Irish entries with Gordon Elliott’s Felix Desjy and Joseph O’Brien’s Rhinestone the only other possibles coming across the Irish Sea.

Of the British contingent, Nick Gifford’s Didtheyleaveuoutto and Anthony Honeyball’s Acey Milan are rated highest in the betting. Runaway Fairyhouse winner and subsequent £350,000 purchase Downtown Getaway was the only absentee of real significance.

Irish-trained horses dominate the betting for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase with the Gordon Elliott-trained Cause Of Causes front and centre among a field of 21 entries. Also entered is Enda Bolger’s pair Josie’s Orders, upgraded winner of this race in 2016, and recent Punchestown scorer Auvergnat. Elliott could also be represented by Tiger Roll, who may bid to add another Festival win to his already unique double of the Triumph Hurdle and National Hunt Chase.

There are 11 Irish entries in all for the race which also holds four French-trained possibles. Urgent De Gregaine, third over this course in November, looks the pick of that quartet.

Willie Mullins has won the only two renewals of the Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and Laurina looks set to be his best chance to make it three out of three in the newest race to be added to the Festival. The five-year-old mare impressed many with the way she won a Grade 3 hurdle at Fairyhouse amd she is priced around the Even money mark with bookmakers. In a list of 30, Laurina is one of 15 Irish entries which also include Ray Hackett’s Crackerdancer, Denis Hogan’s Moyhenna and Pat Fahy’s Awayinthewest, who finished sixth in the race last season, but qualifies as a second-season novice.

Of the home team Maria’s Benefit looks the standout inclusion. Previously trained by James Doyle to win a Dromahane point-to-point, the six-year-old daughter of Beneficial has gone from strength to strength this season and will arrive in Cheltenham off the back of five wins in a row.

Pierce Power’s Burning Ambition is one of nine Irish-trained entries among a field of 32 in the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase. The seven-year-old son of Germany has progressed from point-to-points to the track and warmed up for his Cheltenham bid with a good second to Gilgamboa at Punchestown.