The final Cheltenham Festival entries were revealed with four-time meeting winner Tiger Roll heading 26 in the Cross Country Chase.
The Gordon Elliott trained 10-year-old, winner of the Grand National in 2018 and 2019, is chasing a third success in the contest.
Tiger Roll has also had previous Festival success in the Triumph Hurdle (2014) and National Hunt Chase (2016).
He is the shortest-priced winner in Cross Country Chase history, having obliged at 5/4 last year.
The Gigginstown House Stud owned gelding is once again a red-hot favourite with bookmakers and even shorter in the ante post betting.
Tiger Roll made a highly promising run on seasonal reappearance when fifth in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan.
Irish trainers boast a formidable record, having taken 13 of the previous 15 Cross Country renewals.
Enda Bolger has five wins to his name – all of which carried the famous green and gold hooped colours of JP McManus.
His two entries this time around are 2016 winner Josies Orders and Yanworth.
McManus has also purchased David Cottin’s French raider Easysland – winner of a Cross Country handicap over course and distance in distance. T
he six-year-old has since followed-up in a Listed contest at Pau and comes to Cheltenham unbeaten in his last six outings.
Emmanuel Clayeux’s Diesel d’Allier won the only other Cross Country race held at the course this season.
His French stable is also represented by Urgent de Gregaine, who has plenty of course experience.
Best of the home team could well by 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Might Bite, who is set to make his first appearance over the banks for Nicky Henderson.
Appreciate It among final Cheltenham Festival entries and Mullins quintet in Champion Bumper
The 35 final Cheltenham Festival entries for the Grade 1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper on Wednesday, 11 March, include current red-hot favourite Appreciate It.
He was very impressive when landing a Grade 2 contest at Leopardstown when last seen in action.
Appreciate It hails from the all-conquering yard of champion Irish trainer Mullins, who
is by far the most successful in the contest with nine victories.
The master Of Closutton has four entries in total, including the highly-touted Ferny Hollow.
He made it third time lucky last time out when registering a facile success at Fairyhouse in the manner of a potentially top notch prospect.
Perhaps the strongest British trained challenger is Israel Champ, who hails from the yard of David Pipe.
He has landed two Listed bumpers this season – including here at The November Meeting.
Mullins has also won all four runnings of the Grade 2 Daylesford Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, registered as the Dawn Run, which takes place on Thursday, March 12 and has 36 entries.
Lamarckise, the current second-favourite in the ante post betting, looks like the clear pick of his five entries this year.
The market leader is the Henry De Bromhead trained Minella Melody, who remains undefeated over hurdles after three impressive victories this season.
Last year’s Foxhunter Chase winner Hazel Hill heads 34 entries for this renewal on Friday, 13 March.
The Philip Rowley trained 12-year-old could face a rematch with Jonjo O’Neill trained 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Minella Rocco, who defeated him at Wetherby on February 1.
Previous Cheltenham Festival winner Don Poli is another of the final Cheltenham Festival entries in the Foxhunter.
