Cheltenham hopes at Leopardstown

Today´s Irish N.H. card at Leopardstown has some very strong fields with several of the leading Irish Cheltenham hopes on view. This applies particularly to the Irish Champion Hurdle at 15.45 CET with only 5 runners, but all very classy. Hurricane Run (Willie Mullins/ Paul Townend, generally regarded as the best hurdler in the country and currently second favourite for Cheltenham, has to win this to maintain his position in the market.

He has won 8 of his last 9 starts; once he finished behind Solwhit (Charlie Byrnes/ Davy Russell), but has beaten that rival 3 times since and is expected to do so again. Stable companion Thousand Stars, ridden as usual by Katie Walsh, can pick up some nice prize-money, but Voler la Vedette and Sublimity, smart though they are, are porbably fighting it out fo fourth place.

Mullins can also win the Irish Arkle novice chase at 14.45 with Flat Out; nephew Emmet partners this one, who has won on all his 3 starts with Emmet on board, including an impressive win on his chasing debut last time. Realt Dubh (Noel Meade/ Paul Carberry), German-bred Noble Prince (Paul Nolan/ Barry Geraghty) and Saludos (Jessica Harrington) all ran in the Grade One run over this CD at the Christmas meeting. Saludos made almost all the running but fell at the last, leaving Realt Dubh to score from Noble Prince; revenge is in the air this time.

The Grade Two novice hurdle at 16.20 should go to Hidden Cyclone (Shark Hanlon/ Andrew McNamara), who after 3 wins in minor company, ran an excellent race in defeat when aclose third here in a Grade One at the Christmas meeting.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Gift Of Dgab - Day Of A Lifetime - What A Charm
2. Race: Realt Dubh - Flat Out - Saludos
3. Race: Questions Answered - Erritt Lake - Arklow Ger
4. Race: Hurricane Fly - Solwhit - Voler La Vedette
5. Race: Hidden Cyclone - Ballyhaunis - Fully Funded
6. Race: Ephorus - Ring Street Roller - Golan Guy
7. Race: Burn And Turn - Zadarska - Shrapnel