Dual winner Al Boum Photo and Santini among 41 Cheltenham Gold Cup entries

Dual winner Al Boum Photo was on Wednesday among 41 entries for the Grade 1 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30) on March 19.

The nine-year-old, who began his season with Grade 3 victory at Tramore this month, was a narrow winner of last season's Gold Cup, finishing a neck clear of Santini, who has also been entered.

Nicky Henderson could also call on RSA winner Champ and Terrefort, while Paul Nicholls may be represented by King George winner Frodon, as well as Cyrname, Master Tommytucker and Real Steel.

Irish-trained runners have won four of the last five Gold Cups and they account for 17 entries. Willie Mullins has made seven entries, including Al Boum Photo, Kemboy, Melon and Castlebawn West.

Gold Cup entries

A Plus Tard, winner of the Savills Chase, and Minella Indo, second to Champ at last year's festival, were entered by Henry de Bromhead.

Gordon Elliott, who won the Grade 1 with Don Cossack in 2016, has entered five runners: Samcro, Presenting Percy, Battleoverdoyen, Shattered Love and Delta Work, who finished fifth last season.

Last year's third Lostintranslation has been entered by trainer Colin Tizzard alongside 2018 winner Native River and Mister Malarkey.

Ruth Jefferson has entered King George second Waiting Patiently in the Gold Cup, as well as in the Ryanair and Champion Chase.

Waiting Patiently (left): was second to Frodon in this season's King GeorgeCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Conditional won the Grade 3 Ultima Handicap at the festival last season and has been entered by David Bridgwater, who came close to winning with The Giant Bolster, who was runner-up in 2012.

"The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a potential long-term target for The Conditional," Bridgwater said. "His owner [Peter Cave] would love to have a runner in the race, and we all have dreams don’t we so we’ve made the entry and who knows, he may end up in the race in March.

"I guess one of the factors that could come into the mix is whether the Irish are allowed to come over? You would have to say in the Gold Cup picture, the best form is with the Irish horses so that is something that will be interesting to see.

"The Conditional has come out of his last run at Ascot in good form. I think if it was a left-handed track, he would have won that day, but we have been really pleased with him since.

"The target for him is going to be the Cotswold Chase [January 30]. That will give us an idea of where we stand with him and if maybe the Gold Cup is something to think about."

There is a scratchings deadline for the race on February 9 with the six-day confirmation and supplementary entry stage following on March 13.

Entries for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase will be revealed on Thursday.

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