Record Irish entries for Novices' Hurdle

Racing : Ante-post favourite Aran Concerto is one of a record 59 entries from Ireland in this season's Ballymore Properties …

Racing: Ante-post favourite Aran Concerto is one of a record 59 entries from Ireland in this season's Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Trained by Noel Meade, who won this race in 2005 with Nicanor, the six-year-old is all the rage in the market after runaway victories on his last two starts.

The Grade One contest over two miles, five furlongs has appealed to 137 possible runners at the entry stage.

Wichita Lineman and Tidal Bay, first and second respectively in the big Grade Two trial at Cheltenham on Saturday, feature in a watertight home team.

Henrietta Knight's Ringaroses, winner of both starts over timber, and Paul Nicholls' Silverburn, whose brother Denman finished second in last year's race, are other notable entries who could go to post on March 14th.

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