Tatenen set for Arkle

Ante-post favourite Tatenen is one of five entries for champion trainer Paul Nicholls in the Irish Independent Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Nicholls has won the two-mile event twice in recent years with Flagship Uberalles (1999) and Azertyuiop (2003) and Tatenen, a wide-margin winner at Prestbury Park earlier in the year, remains his number one hope.

Nicholls’ I’msingintheblues and Free World also feature among the 52 entries for the March 10 feature, while Alan King has four possibles in Araldur, Oh Crick, Sir Harry Ormesher and Turkish Surprise.

There are 17 Irish-trained entries, including the Tom Cooper-trained Forpadydeplasterer and Willie Mullins’ Jayo.

Noel Meade has entered Nicanor, who remains the only horse to have beaten Gold Cup hero Denman.

Follow The Plan, who defeated Tatenen last time out in Ireland, is also an entry for Oliver McKiernan.