Salmon heads Down Royal entries

Ireland’s leading Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Beef Or Salmon heads the 15 entries for the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal next month.

Truckers Tavern, Harbour Pilot, Valley Henry and Commanche Court, second, third, fourth and sixth respectively in last season’s blue riband, are also included in the entries for the €140,000 contest on November 8.

The Grade One event has also attracted Galway Plate winner Nearly A Moose.

Somerset trainer Paul Nicholls is doubly represented, having entered both Valley Henry and Sleeping Night.

Sleeping Night, a multiple jumps winner in France, has joined Ditcheat-based Nicholls from Mary Reveley’s yard, having finished runner-up to Baracouda over hurdles.

His best performance over fences was when filling the same position behind Sackville on his British chasing debut for the Saltburn handler two years ago.

Entries for the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase: Al Capone, Arctic Copper, Barrow Drive, Be My Belle, Beef Or Salmon, Come In Moscow, Commanche Court, Give Over, Glenelly Gale, Harbour Pilot, Nearly A Moose, Sleeping Night, Truckers Tavern, Valley Henry, Western View.