The entries were released for the Champion Chase (19 entries), Ryanair (32 entries) and Gold Cup (20 entries) yesterday with, to be honest, very few surprises or even newsworthy aspects.
At first glance the Champion Chase looks like a match between El Fabiolo and Jonbon, leaving just one place for e/w backers to aim for. However, the two at the head of the market might well meet in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot in a couple of weeks and a decisive victory for either of them might prompt defeated connections to consider the Ryanair - both horses having been entered for the Thursday highlight. There still doesn't seem to be much of an e/w angle though with many of the field looking past their prime - maybe Edwardstone for the UK and Appreciate It for Ireland at rewarding odds as both have festival winning form.
The Gold Cup now has a very short fav after Galopin Des Champs demolition job in the Savills Chase and if he brings that form to the Gold Cup he will be very difficult to beat. If the ground were to come up quicker you'd think Fastorslow would be the main danger to the champ but he has been to the festival twice and been beaten twice (albeit very narrowly both times). The horse who does make appeal for an each way punt is Gentlemansgame at 25/1. Robcour also have Gerri Colombe but he has lost his air of invincibility and I could see both of their entries running. Gentlemansgame remains very unexposed and it is entirely possible he can take a big step forward from his Charlie Hall victory.
The Ryanair has numerous dual-entered horses from both the Champion Chase and Gold Cup entries and it is the old conundrum of who will run where. If the ground came up on the quicker side I would be interested in Banbridge for this contest but you'd want NRNB as they may well skip Cheltenham again and go to Aintree with him.