CHELTENHAM yesterday unveiled bumper entries for the three novice hurdle championship races at next month's Festival.
A combined total of 380 horses have been put in the contests which get proceedings under way on each of the three days of the meeting.
Cheltenham managing director Edward Gillespie said: "The high level of entries is good news for this Cheltenham Festival and future ones, as well as for National Hunt racing as a whole.
"The Irish challenge looks particularly strong and I am delighted to see a French entry in each of the races.
The Citroen Supreme Novices' Hurdle has attracted 122 entries, the Royal Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle a massive 150 and the Elite Racing Club Triumph Hurdle 108.