Gungadu heads 58 Challenge entries

Racing: Likely favourite Gungadu heads a list of 58 entries for the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival…

Racing:Likely favourite Gungadu heads a list of 58 entries for the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.

The seven-year-old has won three of his four starts over fences and was most recently seen when landing the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot last month.

Jonjo O'Neill boasts an enviable record in the four-mile-one-furlong contest having won the race three times in the last five years with Native Emperor (2004), Sudden Shock (2003) and Rith Dubh (2002).

He has six to choose from this year including Butler's Cabin, who was a fine fourth to Exotic Dancer in the Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup, and 530,000-guinea purchase Garde Champetre.

READ MORE

Ferdy Murphy claimed the race last year with Hot Weld and he has entered Kelso winner Lucky Nellerie and Eider Chase second Nine De Sivola this time.

A strong Irish-trained entry of 22 is headed by Noel Meade's pair of Mac Three and Mattock Ranger while Snowy Morning is an interesting possible for Willie Mullins.

Francois Doumen could field the only French-trained runner in Ommega, a winner over fences at Fontainebleau in December.