The punters very much had the upper hand at last year’s Dublin Racing Festival, with seven favourites and a second-favourite winning the eight Grade One events, and Honeysuckle (3.00) will be a short price to retain her unbeaten record in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday, on what promises to be another afternoon when market leaders dominate.
Rachael Blackmore’s mount will set off at around 1-3 and and while this is her first meeting with Zanahiyr, one of last season’s leading juveniles, he has 6lb to find on the official ratings and Henry de Bromhead’s runner also gets a 7lb mares’ allowance.
Saint Roi, meanwhile, was 21 lengths behind Honeysuckle 12 months ago and anything other than a 14th straight win for Honeysuckle will be as much a surprise as it is a disappointment.
Leopardstown 1.20 Galopin Des Champs could hardly have done any more when making his chase debut at the Christmas meeting here, winning by 22 lengths with any amount in hand.
Musselburgh 1.32 Inca Prince has made rapid progress since joining Ruth Jefferson in the autumn and would be a match for likely favourite Impulsive One if reproducing the form of either of his recent wins.
Leopardstown 1.50 The bare form of the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December gives Chacun Pour Soi plenty to find with Greaneteen, but he is likely to be a different proposition back on home turf.
Musselburgh 2.05 Little to choose here between promising novices Since Day One and Restandbethankful, but Donald McCain’s runner remains unbeaten over hurdles and may have the greater scope for improvement.
Leopardstown 2.25 It is difficult to find a runner without some sort of chance in this fearsomely competitive handicap chase. Minella Times, last season’s Grand National winner, will get plenty of attention ahead of the publication of this year’s Aintree weights later this month while Samcro and The Shunter are other familiar names in the 17-strong field but Rebel Gold, a close second at Limerick in December in a race run in a useful time, may be the pick of the prices at around 16-1.
Musselburgh 2.40 Brorson has taken a 13lb hike in the weights after his latest success at Southwell but he won with any amount in hand there and even his new mark may underestimate his potential at staying trips.
Kempton Park 1.40 Aphelios 2.15 Mellys Flyer 2.50 Tranquil Night 3.25 Old Port 4.00 La Tihaty 4.30 Larado
Musselburgh 1.00 Broadway Joe 1.32 Inca Prince (nap) 2.05 Since Day One 2.40 Brorson 3.15 Sarasota Star (nb) 3.50 Pookie Pekan 4.20 Zafar
Musselburgh 3.15 The front-running Sarasota Star has been headed in the closing stages on his last two starts but he remains on a fair mark and better ground here could make all the difference.
Leopardstown 3.35 Sir Gerhard is the only Grade One favourite on Sunday’s card who might start at odds-against, and Three Stripe Life looks overpriced at around 9-2 to beat him. Gordon Elliott’s runner would have gone close to beating his stable companion, Mighty Potter, in a Grade One at the Christmas meeting but for a mistake two out and will set a high bar for Sir Gerhard, last year’s Champion Bumper winner, on just his second start over hurdles.
