Mullins chasing Neptune hat-trick

Willie Mullins has 13 entries as he chases a third successive victory in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 17.

Ireland’s champion trainer has saddled Fiveforthree and Mikael D’Haguenet to win the last two renewals of the Grade One contest and among his entries for this year’s renewal are Quel Esprit and Enterprise Park.

There are plenty of other leading contenders among the 37 Irish-trained entries including Dermot Weld’s Rite Of Passage, Paul Nolan’s Shinrock Paddy and Henry de Bromhead’s Loosen My Load, although all of them do hold entries in the other events.

Nick Williams’ Challow Hurdle hero Reve De Sivola is one of the leading contenders for the home team, while General Miller and Quantitativeasing are among 10 possible runners for Nicky Henderson.

Peddlers Cross, Tell Massini, Ghizao and Australian contender Onajet are other possibles worthy of note.