Cheltenham Racecourse is anticipating a high-quality start to The Open following today's six-day entries for the first day of the meeting, Countryside Day next Friday.
One of the highlights of The Open, the £22,000 Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeplechase (2.20pm) provides plenty of thrills over Cheltenham's unique Cross Country course.
This year's contest looks set to be another enjoyable spectacle, with Garde Champetre featuring among 13 entries for the three mile, seven furlong, contest. The Enda Bolger-trained 12-year-old has enjoyed five wins on the Cross Country course, headed by a pair of victories in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at The Festival in 2008 & 2009.
Bolger may also be represented by five-year-old Maxdelas, who could make his debut for the cross country master, having triumphed in a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter for previous trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies last season.
Fellow Irish handler Denis Murphy is enjoying a burgeoning reputation as a cross country chase specialist and the Co Wexford trainer is aiming to strike with Theroadtocroker, who managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in two appearances over Punchestown's banks course in May.
The seven-year-old took the wrong course when holding every chance entering the home straight on May 2 and fell at the final fence when two lengths clear over the same course and distance four days later.
Murphy reported: “Theroadtocroker will definitely be heading over to Cheltenham and the quicker the ground, the better for him.
“He was unlucky not to win two cross country chases at the Punchestown Festival. The first time, he looked liked he was going to hack up and his jockey mistook the turn.
“He appeared to be travelling with menace, so we decided to run him again on the Saturday. He was well clear of the field coming to the last, when he came down.
“We took him over to France for a couple of their cross country races over the summer and he ran well to be second at Dieppe in June. He was a little disappointing on his latest start at Craon (7th, September 4), but he might have needed the race fitness-wise and he is bouncing now.
“He is in good form and he loves racing over cross country courses. The first season is always the hardest with these horses and he has the experience now, so I would like to think that we can start having a bit of luck with him.”
Further Irish interest in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeplechase is provided by the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Scotsirish, who was fifth in the 2009 renewal of the Grade One sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase, and Uncle Junior, plus Fort George, whose trainer Henry de Bromhead saddled Sizing Australia to take the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at The Festival in March.
Wedger Pardy triumphed over Punchestown's banks course for Ted Walsh in 2009 and the 10-year-old may make his first start for his new trainer Kim Bailey, while the Philip Hobbs-trained Fair Along boasts some excellent form over both fences and hurdles.
The entry is completed by Gullible Gordon, Double Dizzy, Intac, Corrib Drift and Pass Me By.
Nicky Henderson has saddled the two previous winners of the £40,000 Paddypower.com On Mobile Handicap Chase (1.45pm) courtesy of French Opera and Dave's Dream and the Lambourn trainer may aim for a hat-trick in the two-mile contest with Osric and Tanks For That, who feature among the 27 entries.
Crack Away Jack, fourth in the 2009 Stan James Champion Hurdle for Emma Lavelle, could make his debut for trainer Paul Nicholls, who has also entered Takeroc, while David Pipe could be represented by Grade Two runner-up I'msingingtheblues and Consigliere, who took fourth in the Group Three Byrne Group Plate in March.
Oh Crick, successful in the Grade Three Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase in 2009, could return to Cheltenham for his handler Alan King.
An entry of 17 for the £21,500 Grade Two Opus Energy Novices' Hurdle (2.55pm) includes the Paul Nicholls-trained Prospect Wells, a Group One runner-up on the Flat in France, who made a winning debut over hurdles when comfortably scoring at Chepstow on October 25.
Ericht was the impressive winner of a Grade Two bumper at Newbury in February for Nicky Henderson before taking sixth in the Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper at The Festival in March, while the Jessica Harrington-trained Steps To Freedom landed a Grade Three hurdle at Punchestown on October 13.
Racing gets underway with the £17,000 Irish Times Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase (1.10pm, 27 entries) and also includes the £10,000 cheltenhamcollection.co.uk Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (3.30pm, 62 entries).
The action is completed by the £17,000 Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase (4.05pm), which has been won in recent years by future Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Denman and Imperial Commander.
The 21 entries for this year's renewal include top-class hurdlers Grands Crus, Cue Card Saint Are and Restless Harry, last year's Grade One Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle winner First Lieutenant and Mossley, who was runner-up in the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.
Countryside Day showcases the best of rural life, with a host of activities and displays on offer. Team GBR performance manager Yogi Breisner will put a top dressage rider, showjumper and eventer through their paces in a display billed as 'Team GBR Prepares', while the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association will host the popular parade of Jump stallions.
Potential future stars of the Jumping world will go under the hammer at the Brightwells Bloodstock Sale after racing. Last season's Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper winner Cheltenian was purchased at the corresponding sale 12 months ago
The Open involves 18 races over three days as well as the Greatwood Charity Sweepstake, which concludes the event at 4.10pm on Sunday, November 13.
Paddy Power Gold Cup Day on Saturday features the £150,000 Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.35pm), while the cracking six-race card also includes the £21,500 Grade Two JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (1.20pm) and the £40,000 Grade Three Rewards4Racing Handicap Chase (1.55pm).
Sunday's feature race is the £100,000 Grade Three Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (2.20pm), which often provides pointers to the Grade One Stan James Champion Hurdle at The Festival in March. Sunday also hosts the £23,500 Grade Two Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase (1.10pm), the £21,500 Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (3.30pm) and the £45,000 Shloer Steeplechase.
