Irish Champion Hurdles with Honeysuckle

Leopardstown, Sunday, 5 February: On the second day of the Dublin Festival in Leopardstown, numerous classics are on the programme such as the Irish Champion Hurdle (5th race/16.10 h/200,000 Euro/3220 m), which is more strongly contested than ever before.

Honeysuckle (Rachael Blackmore), undefeated for several years, suffered a stinging defeat in the Hatton`s Grace Hurdle (Group 1), but the nine-year-old should be back to her usual strength. She certainly does not face a walkover as the five-time unbeaten State Man (Paul Townend) will give her all she can handle. A year ago, the Mullins protégé won the Matheson Hurdle (Group 1) in superior fashion ahead of Vauban (Danny Mullins), who pinned the JCB Triumph Hurdle (Group 1) at Cheltenham to his banner last year.

In the Dublin Chase (3rd race/15.10/150,000 Euro/3420m) Blue Lord (Paul Townend) should stay on the winning track. The only threat to the Willie Mullins-trained winner of the Rewars Club Chase (Group 1) here in December is Gentleman de Me (Mark Walsh), who recently finished far behind Blue Lord after an unfortunate run. Sceau Royal (Daryl Jacob) runs reliably to the front and comes into question ahead of the rest.