Willie Mullins has six entries, more than any other trainer, in the £300,000 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

His six are headed by Champagne Fever and the others are Ballycasey, Boston Bob, Djakadam, Turban and Twinlight.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Don Cossack is the 8/1 second favourite in most lists for the two-mile, five-furlong event. Winner of the Grade 1 John Durkan Chase at Punchestown on his most recent start, Don Cossack is due to run at Thurles next Thursday.

There are 39 entries in the Ryanair Chase, including 16 from Ireland. The two most recent winners are both engaged, the 2014 scorer Dynaste (David Pipe) and Cue Card (Colin Tizzard), who won in 2013.

The pair were last seen out in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton Park, with Dynaste taking the runner-up spot behind Silviniaco Conti and Cue Card coming home in fifth.

Cue Card scored by a decisive nine lengths when successful in 2013. The nine-year-old missed last year's Festival through injury and was unable to defend his crown.

Cue Card's trainer Colin Tizzard reported: "The Ryanair Chase is the target for Cue Card. It looks as though in the very top grade that he does not stay, so that's why we are coming back in trip.

"He picked up quite a nasty cut in the King George and had to have stitches. He had to have a few quiet days but we have just started riding him back now. He will not run before Cheltenham and we have got two and a half months to get him ready."

First Lieutenant (Mouse Morris) was second to Cue Card in 2013, while the two most recent winners of the Listed Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase at the Festival have also been entered - Present View (Jamie Snowden) and Rajdhani Express (Nicky Henderson).

Henderson has made five entries - his others are Captain Conan, Finian's Rainbow, Hunt Ball and Ma Filleule. Simonsig has not been entered for either this race or the Champion Chase and is thought unlikely to run this season.

Philip Hobbs, who has enjoyed a tremendous season, could run Menorah, winner of the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in November, and Wishfull Thinking, successful in December's Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon.

RYANAIR CHASE

Grade 1. 2m 5f, £300,000. Thursday, March 12th.

Horse Age Owner Trainer

AL FEROF (FR) 10 John Hales Paul Nicholls

BAILY GREEN (IRE) 9 R A Scott Mouse Morris IRE

BALDER SUCCES (FR) 7 Masterson Holdings Limited Alan King

BALLYCASEY (IRE) 8 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE

BALLYNAGOUR (IRE) 9 Allan Stennett David Pipe

BOSTON BOB (IRE) 10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE

BRIGHT NEW DAWN (IRE) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Sandra Hughes IRE

CAID DU BERLAIS (FR) 6 Donlon, Doyle, MacDonald & C Barber Paul Nicholls

CAPTAIN CONAN (FR) 8 Triermore Stud Nicky Henderson

CARLINGFORD LOUGH (IRE) 9 J P McManus John Kiely IRE

CHAMPAGNE FEVER (IRE) 8 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE

CUE CARD 9 Jean Bishop Colin Tizzard

DJAKADAM (FR) 6 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE

DON COSSACK (GER) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) 9 Options O Syndicate Nigel Twiston-Davies

DYNASTE (FR) 9 John White David Pipe

EDUARD (IRE) 7 Eddie Melville Nicky Richards

FINIAN'S RAINBOW (IRE) 12 Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson

FIRST LIEUTENANT (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE

HIDDEN CYCLONE (IRE) 10 Mrs A F Mee & David Mee John Hanlon IRE

HUNT BALL (IRE) 10 Atlantic Equine Nicky Henderson

JOHNS SPIRIT (IRE) 8 Christopher Johnston Jonjo O'Neill

MA FILLEULE (FR) 7 Simon Munir Nicky Henderson

MENORAH (IRE) 10 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs

MODULE (FR) 8 Simon Clarke Tom George

NO BUTS 7 Wontcostalot Partnership David Bridgwater

PRESENT VIEW 7 Sir Chips Keswick Jamie Snowden

RAJDHANI EXPRESS 8 Robert Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson

RATHLIN 10 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE

ROI DU MEE (FR) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

SAVELLO (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Tony Martin IRE

TAQUIN DU SEUIL (FR) 8 Martin Broughton & Friends 1 Jonjo O'Neill

TEXAS JACK (IRE) 9 Robert Watson Noel Meade IRE

THIRD INTENTION (IRE) 8 Robert and Sarah Tizzard Colin Tizzard

TURBAN (FR) 8 E O'Connell Willie Mullins IRE

TWINLIGHT (FR) 8 M L Bloodstock Ltd Willie Mullins IRE

UXIZANDRE (FR) 7 J P McManus Alan King

WISHFULL THINKING 12 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs

WONDERFUL CHARM (FR) 7 R J H Geffen Paul Nicholls

39 entries

16 Irish-trained

Current betting: 9/2 Dynaste, 7 Don Cossack, 8 Champagne Fever, 10 Cue Card, 12 Al Ferof, Johns Spirit, 14 Taquin Du Seuil, 16 Hidden Cyclone, 20/1 bar.