Belfast Banter among illustrious Cheltenham names out to score at Aintree

Belfast Banter, the impressive winner of the McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival, will attempt to follow up in Grade 1 company at next week's Grand National meeting.

The Peter Fahey-trained six-year-old, one of 23 Irish-trained winners at the Cheltenham Festival, was among the 18 entries for Friday's Betway Top Novices' Hurdle (2.20).

Snow possible as 'changeable forecast' proves challenging for Aintree team

The potential opposition is strong but Fahey is not deterred and said: "I'd be confident he'll run, we've all the transport sorted so he'll be running bar something happening between now and then.

"We're all systems go, he seems to have come out of Chelteham very well and the plan is to run at Aintree. It's a pretty quick track and that suits him well, as does the English style of racing as they go very quick early on."

Those he could meet include Supreme third For Pleasure, JCB Triumph Hurdle fifth Tritonic, Third Time Lucki, who finished sixth in the County behind Belfast Banter but meets here on much better terms, and a host of promising types who skipped Cheltenham such as Ajero, Dusart, fellow Irish raider Dreal Deal and the Dan Skelton-trained 150-rated My Drogo.

My Drogo: entered at AintreeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

On the step into Graded company Fahey said: "It's a massive step up but I reckon he'll go up to something just below 140 and you've the Skelton horse at 150 so we're not a million miles off in terms of rating."

Allaho, the impressive winner of the Ryanair Chase, was not among the entries for Friday's Marsh Chase (registered as the Melling Chase) and will instead head for the Punchestown festival.

Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park, said: "Everything is fine. I spoke to Willie [Mullins] this morning at length about the entry and he felt the horse had a hard race at Cheltenham and he'd prefer to give him the extra time and wait until Punchestown.

"I'm not sure which race he'll run in, Richard Thompson will be involved in that decision."

Politologue: Champion Chase absentee back at AintreeCredit: Edward Whitaker

But the Melling is the destination for Politologue, who was denied the chance to defend his Champion Chase crown last month when a trace of blood was found in his nostril minutes before going to post.

The Betway Mildmay Novices' Chase could see two festival winners clash with Marsh Chase winner Chantry House and Paddy Power Plate scorer The Shunter.

They could be joined by Brown Advisory Novices' Chase second and third Fiddlerontheroof and The Big Breakaway, Scilly Isles one-two Sporting John and Shan Blue, National Hunt Challenge Cup third, fourth and fifth Escaria Ten, Snow Leopardess and Remastered and Ultima runner-up Happygolucky.

The Shunter also holds an entry in the Grade 1 Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle, in which he could meet Ballymore third Bravemansgame, the aforementioned Dreal Deal and a whole host of beaten horses from the Albert Bartlett headlined by runner-up Oscar Elite.

A total of 32 remain in the Topham, which has a maximum field size of 30, with the Willie Mullins-trained 11-year-old Livelovelaugh currently the 7-1 favourite.

Read more on the 2021 Grand National festival:

O'Leary: Tiger Roll goes to Aintree and there will be no humble pie if he wins

Song For Someone to face top-class rivals in Aintree Hurdle next Thursday

Evan Williams turns to James Bowen for Grand National ride on Secret Reprieve

O'Neill confident about Cloth Cap's chances but his price is 'crackers'

Another Papillon? Ted Walsh-trained Any Second Now primed for Grand National bid

Jamie Codd preparing to do lowest weight in 17 years on Irish National contender

Watering begins at Aintree with further irrigation before National not ruled out

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