Henry de Bromhead: Honeysuckle as good as ever for Irish Champion bid

Honeysuckle's remarkable winning sequence may have come to an end, but Henry de Bromhead doesn't think his superstar mare is on a downward spiral as she prepares for a showdown with State Man in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle.

The entries for the eight Grade 1 races at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on February 4-5 were revealed on Thursday, with De Bromhead's runaway Cheltenham Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard the most notable absentee from the 11 entries for the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup, the trainer happy to send his nine-year-old straight to Cheltenham in defence of his crown.

Honeysuckle's bid for a fourth successive Irish Champion Hurdle could see her tackle a host of representatives from Closutton as Willie Mullins has entered State Man, Vauban, Sir Gerhard, Sharjah and Echoes In Rain.