Reigning champion Marine Nationale, Il Etait Temps and Christmas Hurdle winner Sir Gino feature in 24 entries for the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Owned and trained by Barry Connell, Marine Nationale was a decisive winner last season and went on to follow up in equally impressive fashion at Punchestown. He was a somewhat unfortunate loser on his return to action at Christmasm when a mistake knocked him almost sideways.

Il Etait Temps will be looking to break his Cheltenham duck, having finished fifth in the 2022 Triumph Hurdle, fifth in the 2023 Supreme and third in the 2024 Arkle.

He is unbeaten in five since that Arkle defeat, beating Jonbon at Sandown at the end of last season and in the Tingle Creek last month.

Nicky Henderson’s stalwart is another who has yet to win at the Festival, finishing second in the Supreme, Arkle and last year’s Champion Chase, but it is the entry of his stablemate Sir Gino which catches the eye, although Henderson has stated he is heading down the Champion Hurdle route.

Willie Mullins’ Energumene and Henry de Bromhead’s Captain Guineas are previous winners bidding to regain the title, while Majborough also has the option for Mullins.

Dan Skelton’s L’Eau Du Sud and Thistle Ask, Joseph O’Brien’s Solness and the novice Irish Panther are all there.

The Ryanair Chase gives several a second option and the likes of Grey Dawning, Banbridge, Champ Kiely, Gaelic Warrior, Handstands, Jango Baie and The Jukebox Man have all been given an entry alongside the Gold Cup.

However, last year’s winner Fact To File only as the Ryanair as an option.

Skelton’s rapid improver Panic Attack has been put in, as has Gordon Elliott’s Grade One-winning novice Romeo Coolio.

BETMGM QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE (GRADE 1). 2m. Wed 11 March, 4:00pm

Horse Age Owner Trainer Country

Energumene (FR) 12 Tony Bloom W. P. Mullins Ireland

Gidleigh Park 8 The Eyre Family Harry Fry

Only By Night (IRE) 8 Robcour Gavin Cromwell Ireland

Sir Gino (FR) 6 Mrs J Donnelly Nicky Henderson

Thistle Ask (IRE) 9 Mr T. C. McKeever Dan Skelton

Senecia (IRE) 9 Mr L. Halley Vincent Halley Ireland

Inthepocket 9 Mr John P. McManus Henry de Bromhead Ireland

Jonbon (FR) 10 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson

Majborough (FR) 6 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland

Calico (GER) 10 Mr John J Reilly Dan Skelton

JPR One (IRE) 9 Mr J. P. Romans Joe Tizzard

Marine Nationale (IRE) 9 Mr Barry Connell Barry Connell Ireland

Libberty Hunter 10 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams

Brookie (IRE) 9 Miss A F Rugg Anthony Honeyball

L'Eau du Sud (FR) 8 Mason/Hogarth/Ferguson/Hales/The late J Hales Dan Skelton

Irish Panther 9 Jennifer Coyle/Brian P Whelan Eddie & Patrick Harty Ireland

Il Etait Temps (FR) 8 Hollywood Racing & Barnane Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland

Touch Me Not (IRE) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Kalif du Berlais (FR) 6 Ferguson, Mason, Hales, Done & Hogarth Paul Nicholls

Captain Guinness (IRE) 11 Declan Landy Henry de Bromhead Ireland

Saint Segal (FR) 8 Culverhill Racing Club Mrs Jane Williams

Quilixios 9 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead Ireland

Solness (FR) 8 Bronsan Racing Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland

Found A Fifty (IRE) 9 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

24 entries — 13 Irish-trained

RYANAIR CHASE (GRADE 1). 2m 4f 127y – Thu 12 March, 3:20pm

Horse Age Owner Trainer Country

Banbridge (IRE) 10 Mr R. A. Bartlett Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland

Better Days Ahead (IRE) 8 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Champ Kiely (IRE) 10 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins Ireland

Croke Park (IRE) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Edwardstone 12 Robert Abrey & Ian Thurtle Alan King

Energumene (FR) 12 Tony Bloom W. P. Mullins Ireland

Envoi Allen (FR) 12 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead Ireland

Fact To File (FR) 9 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland

Firefox (IRE) 8 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Found A Fifty (IRE) 9 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Gaelic Warrior (GER) 8 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins Ireland

Gidleigh Park 8 The Eyre Family Harry Fry

Grey Dawning (IRE) 9 Mr Robert Kirkland Dan Skelton

Handstands (IRE) 7 Mr T. P. Radford Ben Pauling

Heart Wood (FR) 8 Robcour Henry de Bromhead Ireland

Il Etait Temps (FR) 8 Hollywood Racing & Barnane Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland

Impaire Et Passe (FR) 8 Munir & Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland

Jagwar (FR) 7 Mr John P. McManus Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Jango Baie (FR) 7 Countrywide Park Homes Ltd Nicky Henderson

Jonbon (FR) 10 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson

JPR One (IRE) 9 Mr J. P. Romans Joe Tizzard

Kalif du Berlais (FR) 6 Ferguson, Mason, Hales, Done & Hogarth Paul Nicholls

Majborough (FR) 6 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland

Master Chewy (IRE) 9 Anne-Marie & Jamie Shepperd N. & W. Twiston-Davies

Matata (IRE) 8 Munir & Souede N. & W. Twiston-Davies

Protektorat (FR) 11 Ferguson/Mason/Hales/The late J Hales Dan Skelton

Romeo Coolio 7 KTDA Racing Gordon Elliott Ireland

Solness (FR) 8 Bronsan Racing Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland

Spillane's Tower (IRE) 8 Mr John P. McManus James Joseph Mangan Ireland

The Jukebox Man (IRE) 8 Mr Harry Redknapp Ben Pauling

Thistle Ask (IRE) 9 Mr T. C. McKeever Dan Skelton

Twinjets (IRE) 9 Mr C. W. Rodgers Paul Nicholls

Panic Attack (IRE) 10 Bryan Drew Dan Skelton

33 entries — 17 Irish-trained

BOODLES CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP (GRADE 1). 3m 2f 70y – Fri 13 March, 4:00pm

Horse Age Wt (st-lb) Owner Trainer Country

Affordale Fury (IRE) 8 11-10 Mr P. L. Polly Noel Meade Ireland

Banbridge (IRE) 10 11-10 Mr R. A. Bartlett Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland

Champ Kiely (IRE) 10 11-10 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins Ireland

Croke Park (IRE) 8 11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Envoi Allen (FR) 12 11-10 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead Ireland

Fastorslow (FR) 10 11-10 Mulryan Family Martin Brassil Ireland

Firefox (IRE) 8 11-10 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Found A Fifty (IRE) 9 11-10 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Gaelic Warrior (GER) 8 11-10 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins Ireland

Galopin des Champs (FR) 10 11-10 Mrs Audrey Turley W. P. Mullins Ireland

Gerri Colombe (FR) 10 11-10 Robcour Gordon Elliott Ireland

Gold Tweet (FR) 9 11-10 AGV Karwin Stud Gabriel Leenders France

Grangeclare West (IRE) 10 11-10 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland

Grey Dawning (IRE) 9 11-10 Mr Robert Kirkland Dan Skelton

Haiti Couleurs (FR) 9 11-10 Conyers/McDermott/Prowting Rebecca Curtis

Handstands (IRE) 7 11-10 Mr T. P. Radford Ben Pauling

Heart Wood (FR) 8 11-10 Robcour Henry de Bromhead Ireland

I Am Maximus (FR) 10 11-10 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland

Impaire Et Passe (FR) 8 11-10 Munir & Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland

Inothewayurthinkin (IRE) 8 11-10 Mr John P. McManus Gavin Cromwell Ireland

Jango Baie (FR) 7 11-10 Countrywide Park Homes Ltd Nicky Henderson

Konfusion 8 11-10 Mrs A. Ellis Parkinson & Sue Smith

L’Homme Presse (FR) 11 11-10 DFA Racing Venetia Williams

Lecky Watson (IRE) 8 11-10 Slaneyville Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland

Monty's Star (IRE) 9 11-10 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead Ireland

Myretown (IRE) 9 11-10 Wymer & Russell Lucinda Russell & M. Scudamore

Nick Rockett (IRE) 9 11-10 Stewart & Sadie Andrew W. P. Mullins Ireland

Resplendent Grey (IRE) 8 11-10 Mrs R. J. Skan Olly Murphy

Spillane's Tower (IRE) 8 11-10 Mr John P. McManus James Joseph Mangan Ireland

Stellar Story (IRE) 9 11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

The Jukebox Man (IRE) 8 11-10 Mr Harry Redknapp Ben Pauling

Three Card Brag (IRE) 9 11-10 McNeill Family et al. Gordon Elliott Ireland

Spindleberry (IRE) 8 11-3 Fearghal & Bronagh Eastwood W. P. Mullins Ireland

33 entries

23 Irish-trained

1 French-trained