Confirmed runners and riders for the Irish Champion Hurdle on Saturday

Star mare Honeysuckle will bid to write her name into the record books and become the sixth horse to win successive Irish Champion Hurdles as she featured among a final field of six for the Grade 1 contest at Leopardstown on Saturday

The seven-year-old is unbeaten in nine starts under rules, including when a gritty winner of the Chanelle Pharma-backed race a year ago, and will try to maintain that sequence and emulate the likes of Hurricane Fly and Istabraq in recording back-to-back victories in the feature on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival.

Victory for Honeysuckle, who is a best-price 6-4 favourite, could set up a tilt at the Champion Hurdle after her connections revealed to the Racing Post her place in the Cheltenham Festival showpiece would likely be assured should she be successful at Leopardstown.

Willie Mullins launches a three-strong attack in attempt to dethrone Honeysuckle, with his battalion formed of three-time Matheson Hurdle hero Sharjah, Saldier and Saint Roi.

Saturday's Leopardstown card

The star-studded field also contains the Gordon Elliott-trained duo Abacadabras, who was victorious in the Morgiana Hurdle earlier in the season but disappointed behind Sharjah over the Christmas period, and Petit Mouchoir.

Six runners have also been declared for the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, with last year's one-two Chacun Pour Soi and Min set to do battle once more in a race that has been exclusively won by trainer Willie Mullins since its inception in 2018, while two-time Grade 1 winner Notebook bids to spoil the party for Honeysuckle's trainer-jockey combination of Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore.

In the other two Grade 1s on Leopardstown's card, Energumene is poised to confirm his credentials as a leading contender for the Sporting Life Arkle and heads a field of nine for the Irish version, which includes Racing Post Novice Chase one-two Franco De Port and Darver Star.

Mullins' attempt at dominating the first day of the Dublin Festival could get off to flyer in the opening Grade 1 2m6f novice hurdle, and he is double-handed with favourite Gaillard Du Mesnil and Stattler in the 13-strong field.

Willie Mullins: has strong claims in the Gowran featureCredit: Edward Whitaker

In Britain, Aidan Coleman is set to keep the ride on Santini in the rescheduled Cotswold Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Coleman was initially confirmed to ride last year's Gold Cup second in the Grade 2 contest in its usual slot at Cheltenham on festival trials day last Saturday before the meeting was cancelled due to waterlogging.

Despite Nicky Henderson's number one jockey and Santini's usual partner, Nico de Boinville, riding at the Surrey track on the same day, Henderson has kept Coleman aboard Santini, who will bid for successive victories in the Cotswold Chase.

He will face five other rivals race, including last year's second and three-time Betfair Chase hero Bristol De Mai, while 2018 Gold Cup victor Native River, Many Clouds Chase winner Lake View Lad, Ryanair Chase second Saint Calvados and Yala Enki complete the field.

Sandown's Saturday card

Seven runners have been declared for the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase on Sandown's all-chase card, with impressive Kauto Star Novices' Chase winner Shan Blue stepping back down in trip for the 2m4f contest.

He faces the De Boinville-ridden Dame De Compagnie, Henry VIII Novices' Chase second Hitman and the resurgent Messire Des Obeaux in a race that has produced three-time Gold Cup winner Best Mate and Cheltenham Festival hero Defi Du Seuil.

At Wetherby, a field of 11 will go to post for the salvaged Cleeve Hurdle and the runners are headed by last year's Scilly Isles winner Itchy Feet, who returns to hurdles and will be ridden by Jonjo O'Neill Jr, who is also set to ride The Big Breakaway in the Grade 2 Towton Novices' Chase should the chase track pass an 8am inspection on Friday morning.

Irish Champion Hurdle runners and riders

Abacadabras Jack Kennedy
Petit Mouchoir Bryan Cooper
Saint Roi Mark Walsh
Saldier TBC
Sharjah TBC
Honeysuckle Rachael Blackmore

Read more:

Five horses who could be slashed for Cheltenham at the Dublin Racing Festival

Champion Hurdle bid pending for Honeysuckle if star retains Dublin crown (Members' Club)

Kennedy hoping for magic Dublin Racing Festival with Abacadabras and Delta Work (Members' Club)

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