Entries for the ninth leg of the Crystal Cup at Cheltenham next month, and likely its most competitive to date, closed today, with 31 throwing their hat in the ring for Festival glory. Despite the race’s reversion to handicap status, there is a familiar look to the headline acts for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeplechase (A Handicap) over 3m 5f, many of whom are headed for Aintree’s Grand National showpiece in April.

Stumptown, winner here in December, heads the market at a miserly 5/2, with weights due to be published on February 26th. He is one of two entries from Gavin Cromwell, one of 7 Irish trainers showing interest in the £75,000 contest, the other,Vanillier, fresh from overturning Coko Beach over the Punchestown banks in early February. They are 2 among 16 Irish entries, half the field. It’s a rare Festival contest without a Willie Mullins entry.

Gigginstown is well represented with a triumvirate of stars, although perhaps it must be said they are all past their peak. Led by Delta Work, who carried 11st 4lb to a 7 1/2l second place in last year’s Grand National, the 12 year old was last seen a distant fourth to L’Homme Pressé in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January.

He may well be joined by Coko Beach, outpointed by Vanillier at Punchestown but a leading candidate in the Velka Pardubicka back in October before unseating, and Conflated, who has been running in exalted company all season. This drop in class may be sufficient to see him finish in the frame for the first time this season over obstacles he prefers to orthodox fences. Gigginstown have been a vociferous opponent of the change in the race conditions; perhaps not so surprising after their considerable success with Tiger Roll, but they’ve never been afraid to pitch their horses into a fight.

Notable among the entries too is the Patrick Griffin-trained Roi Mage, who has followed an orthodox cross country route to this race through Corlay, Craon, and Compiegne. At 25/1, he may well represent excellent value subject to his weight, and is deemed worthwhile enough for champion French rider James Reveley to travel over. Putting in a good showing here would cement his credentials for the Leading Horse Award in the Crystal Cup.

Gordon Elliott’s six-strong team includes Galvin, another whose preparation for this race might seem unorthodox, his only run this season over hurdles 4,000miles away in Far Hills, New Jersey, last October, when he went down by a neck to star US jumper Snap Decision. Galvin’s no stranger to these obstacles however. Two honourable runs over the cross country obstacles in the autumn of ’23 preceded fourth behind I Am Maximus in the ’24 Randox Grand National.

Latenightpass excelled in cross country races last season, but has found a winning thread rather more elusive this time around. He should be well weighted however on the basis of his recent form, whilst Mister Coffey has excellent form over these fences, despite still being a maiden in steeplechases after 15 runs.

David Cottin has entered three, providing a continental flavour to the race. Placenet won the opening Grand Steeplechase de Flandres back in August but was cruelly exposed when stepping up to Grade I company by Gran Diose in the Prix de la Haye Jousselin at Auteuil in November. Motu Fareone has never run over this extended distance, whilst Iceo Madrik came to Cheltenham in December well fancied after a brace of wins at Compiegne, one the listed Crystal Cup leg, only to unseat early in the contest – an inconclusive visit. He has scope to deliver off a low weight.

It’s difficult to make a case for any of the remainder, who look well exposed in this company, even though they include hoary old favourites like Back On The Lash, French Dynamite and Fakir d’Oudairies. Their chances would be enhanced by the top weights dropping out after the weights are published at the end of the month.