Chacun Pour Soi and Honeysuckle head stellar cast for Dublin Racing Festival

The big names of Irish racing – Chacun Pour Soi, Min, Honeysuckle, Minella Indo, Monkfish, Delta Work and Sharjah – remain in contention for the Grade 1 races at the Dublin Racing Festival in what promises to be an action-packed weekend that should not be missed.

Chacun Pour Soi, the horse many believe will provide Willie Mullins with a breakthrough Queen Mother Champion Chase victory at Cheltenham, is on course to defend his Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (1.35) crown on Saturday. Stablemate Min, who chased him home last season before landing the Ryanair at Cheltenham, also features among the seven horses left in the race at the latest forfeit stage.

Sunday's Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3.40) has attracted just five entries with Henry de Bromhead's Minella Indo likely to go off a short price as he bids to put his Savills Chase mishap behind him.

Elliott has taken Presenting Percy and Samcro out of the race and relies on Delta Work and The Storyteller. Mullins, who has won the race ten times, has left Melon and Kemboy in.

Honeysuckle looks set to put her unbeaten record on the line in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (3.15) on Saturday.

Honeysuckle: will put her unbeaten record on the line in the Irish Champion HurdleCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

De Bromhead's star mare could face the stiffest opposition from the Mullins-trained Leopardstown specialist Sharjah, while the champion trainer has also left in Saint Roi and Saldier. The six-strong entry is completed by Gordon Elliott's Morgiana Hurdle winner Abacadabras and stablemate Petit Mouchoir.

Elliott has taken Triumph Hurdle favourite Zanahiyr out of the Spring Juvenile Hurdle (1.40) on Sunday meaning the stable's Quilixios is likely to take on Mullins' new recruit French Aseel in the Grade 1 contest.

Speaking on Monday, Mullins revealed that he felt this season's group of novice chasers could be the best he has ever assembled. Energumene, one of the stable's most exciting novice chasers, features among Mullins' four entries, which includes Blackbow, Franco De Port and Unexcepted, for the Grade 1 Patrick Ward & Company Arkle Novice Chase (2.10) on Saturday.

Last season's Albert Bartlett winner Monkfish, impressive in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, heads the Closutton challenge for the Flogas Novice Chase (3.10) on Sunday where regular rival Latest Exhibition, trained by Paul Nolan, could take him on once again.

Saturday's Grade 2 Goffs Future Stars Flat Race (4.25), won last year by Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite Appreciate It and in 2019 by Envoi Allen, remains jam-packed with talent.

Elliott can choose from an unbeaten duo of Sir Gerhard and Chemical Energy, while Mullins has left in Whatdeawant, Kilcruit and Ramillies.

Leopardstown: track is expected to be in good condition for the weekendCredit: Alain Barr (racingpost.com/photos)

The weather has wreaked havoc in Britain and Ireland in recent weeks, but Leopardstown manager Tim Husbands revealed the track would have been raceable throughout January when other meetings fell by the wayside.

He has promised ideal jumping ground throughout the weekend, and said on Tuesday: "We walked the track this morning. We've had about 16mm overnight and there is a bit of water lying on the course, but not very much, and that will disappear quite quickly.

"It is unsettled for the rest of the week, but we are not expecting massive downpours. It is due to get a little bit cooler, but we are not concerned about that. The track will race really well at the weekend and we are in a good place."

Husbands said: "We would have been able to race today if we needed to. It's interesting that there are many tracks in the UK and in Ireland who have played victim to the weather in recent weeks, but Leopardstown has been raceable all through January."

Read more:

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Willie Mullins hails exceptional novice chase team as strongest he's ever had

Next stop Cheltenham: Paisley Park to miss rearranged Cleeve Hurdle at Wetherby

Irish-trained superstars set to dazzle at the Dublin Racing Festival

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