By Jordan Norris
All eyes will be on Honeysuckle, as she bids to win a fourth Irish Champion Hurdle this weekend, with the Willie Mullins-trained pair of State Man and Vauban standing in the wonder-mare’s way this Sunday.
Leopardstown plays host to two days of world-class racing this weekend, with four Grade Ones kicking off the action on Saturday, February 4th.
There is plenty of local representation across the two days, where it all kicks off with the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Novice Hurdle at 1.20pm.
Barry Connell’s Good Land heads the market as he bids to underline his Ballymore Novice Hurdle credentials next month, with Quais De Paris, Sandor Clegane and American Mike also set to battle it out. Knockeen handler Henry de Bromhead sends Deep Cave into Graded company following his win at the same course on December 28th, and he will be ridden by Rachael Blackmore.
The De Bromhead / Blackmore combination go again in the Grade 1 Donohue Marquees Spring Juvenile Hurdle (1.55) - Ascending, a half-length runner-up behind Tekao last time, will bid to reverse that form but faces Mullins’ Triumph Hurdle favourite Lossiemouth, who is just 4/11 to remain unbeaten.
The Goffs Irish Arkle (2.30) has the potential to be the race of the season, pitting stablemates Appreciate It, Dysart Dynamo and El Fabiolo against the likes of Banbridge and Fil Dor. That’s followed by another Mullins-dominated affair in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3.05) where Galopin Des Champs is a 1/3 favourite, followed in the market by stablemates Stattler and Kemboy. Blackmore will ride Kemboy, as the last two Gold Cup winners, A Plus Tard and Minella Indo, will both head straight to Cheltenham.
Gordon Elliott’s Pertemps Final favourite Maxxum head the field in the €59,000 Grade B Handicap Hurdle over three miles (3.40) while Gavin Cromwell’s Final Orders seeks a five-timer in the 2m 1f equivalent (4.10)
Saturday’s action concludes with the Grade 2 Oliver Brady Memorial Bumper (4.40) where Thomas Mullins’ runaway C&D winner Fascile Mode battles with Elliott’s Better Days Ahead and the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Fact To File and Chosen Witness.
Sunday’s card starts at 1.10 with the Grade B Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle where there are four locally-trained runners.
Henry de Bromhead bloods a trio in Rioga Choice, Popova and recent winner Still Ciel, while Ken Budds’ Getaway Queen also makes the final field of 23.
The Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase (1.40) sees Drinmore Novice Chase winner Mighty Potter, trained by Gordon Elliott, take on five Willie Mullins-trained rivals, James Du Berlais, Kilcruit, Adamantly Chosen, Gaillard Du Mesnil and I Am Maximus.
Mullins’ Blue Lord (2/7) is a runaway favourite for the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (2:10) given the absence of stablemate Energumene, who finished third to Editeur Du Gite in the Clarence House last weekend.
De Bromhead’s Maskada, winner of the Tim Duggan at Limerick, is 8/1 for the €88,500 Grade A Bulmers Leopardstown Handicap Chase (2:40) but has 25 rivals to overcome, many of which may have National hopes going forward.
The weekend highlight comes at 3.10 with the Grade 1 Chantelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle. Can Honeysuckle (15/8) make amends for a first ever career defeat and reaffirm her credentials to win a their consecutive Champion Hurdle in her swansong season.
De Bromhead will hope that can form part of a quickfire 1-2 with the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle, as Inthepocket (10/1) takes on Supreme Novices Hurdle favourite, the unbeaten Facile Vega (1/2) as well as Joseph O’Brien’s High Definition.
The Cheveley Park-owned Ballyadam takes on Gaelic Warrior and co. in the Liffey Grade B Handicap Hurdle (4.10) before the weekends action closes with a finishing Grade 2 Mares Bumper (4.40) where last year’s winner Lily Du Berlais goes again for Stuart Crawford.
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