Confirmed runners and riders for day three as Faugheen lines up in Marsh

The fabulous Faugheen features among 12 declarations for the opening Marsh Novices’ Chase on Thursday.

A dual winner at the Cheltenham Festival, Faugheen is 3-3 in his first campaign over fences at the age of 12, winning Grade 1 prizes at Limerick and Leopardstown on his last two starts.

The Willie Mullins-trained Faugheen – the mount of Paul Townend – landed the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle on his first trip to Cheltenham in 2014 and the Champion Hurdle the following year. Last year he finished third behind Paisley Park in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

Thursday card

His rivals include Scilly Isles scorer Itchy Feet and 2018 Ballymore winner Samcro, while Mullins also runs Bapaume, Melon and Tornado Flyer.

Reigning Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle hero Paisley Park faces 14 rivals in his bid for back-to-back victories on Thursday.

Emma Lavelle’s stable star, who is partnered by regular jockey Aidan Coleman, arrives on the back of Grade 2 wins in the Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham.

His opposition includes Emitom (Gavin Sheehan), Summerville Boy (Jonathan Burke), City Island (Mark Walsh) and Apple’s Jade, ridden by Richard Johnson for the first time.

Frodon is another festival hero bidding for back-to-back wins. He features in a classy eight-runner field for the Ryanair Chase with A Plus Tard, Duc Des Genievres, Min and Riders Onthe Storm among those also taking their chance.

Ante-post Pertemps Hurdle favourite Phoenix Way has not been declared with Barry Geraghty partnering last year’s winner Sire Du Berlais off topweight.

Marsh Novices' Chase runners and riders

1. Bapaume Rider tbc/Willie Mullins
2. Faugheen Paul Townend/Willie Mullins
3. Itchy Feet Gavin Sheehan/Olly Murphy
4. Melon Patrick Mullins/Willie Mullins
5. Midnight Shadow Danny Cook/Sue Smith
6. Mister Fisher Nico de Boinville/Nicky Henderson
7. Poker Play Tom Scudamore/David Pipe
8. Reserve Tank Robbie Power/Colin Tizzard
9. Samcro Davy Russell/Gordon Elliott
10. Tornado Flyer Danny Mullins/Willie Mullins
11. Saint Sonnet Harry Cobden/Paul Nicholls
12. Annie Mc Jonjo O'Neill jr/Jonjo O'Neill

Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle runners and riders

1. Ask Dillon Paddy Brennan/Fergal O'Brien
2. Bacardys Patrick Mullins/Willie Mullins
3. City Island Mark Walsh/Martin Brassil
4. Donna's Diamond Tommy Dowson/Chris Grant
5. Emitom Gavin Sheehan/Warren Greatrex
6. L'Ami Serge Daryl Jacob/Nicky Henderson
7. Lisnagar Oscar Adam Wedge/Rebecca Curtis
8. Paisley Park Aidan Coleman/Emma Lavelle
9. Penhill Paul Townend/Willie Mullins
10. Ronald Pump Bryan Cooper/Matthew Smith
11. Summerville Boy Jonathan Burke/Tom George
12. The Jam Man Sean Flanagan/Ronan McNally
13. Tobefair Tom Bellamy/Debra Hamer
14. West Approach Harry Cobden/Colin Tizzard
15. Apple's Jade Richard Johnson/Gordon Elliott

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