Appreciate It misses Irish Champion Hurdle as Honeysuckle faces four rivals

Honeysuckle will face just four rivals as she bids to land her third Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday after Appreciate It was not among Friday's declarations for day two of the Dublin Racing Festival.

The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old was the only entry not declared for the Grade 1 contest, with the unbeaten novice hurdler yet to be seen on course since storming to a 24-length success in the Supreme last season.

The absence of Appreciate It simplifies the job for Honeysuckle, who was a ten-length runaway winner of the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (3.00) last year and seeks to record a tenth Grade 1 success with Rachael Blackmore once more booked to ride.

Leopardstown card on Sunday

The eight-year-old opened her account this season with success in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle in November and will chart a familiar path back to the Cheltenham Festival where she is currently odds on to retain her Champion Hurdle crown.

Mullins fields two challengers with last year's fourth Saint Roi set to return under Mark Walsh alongside Echoes In Rain, who is the mount of Paul Townend.

Matheson Hurdle runner-up Zanahiyr is the sole runner for Gordon Elliott and Coral Cup winner Heaven Help Us completes the field for Paul Hennessy.

The final day of the Dublin Racing Festival also features three other Grade 1 contests including the Ladbrokes Novice Chase (), where short-priced favourite Galopin Des Champs seeks to follow up on his eyecatching chase debut at the course in December.

Galopin Des Champs: seeking a breakthrough Grade 1 success on SundayCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Galopin Des Champs is one of four runners for the trainer in the race alongside Capodanno, Gaillard Du Mesnil and Fighter Allen. Recent Grade 1 winners Fury Road and Master McShee are also set to line up.

Chacun Pour Soi heads the declarations for the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase () as he seeks a third win in the 2m1f contest under Paul Townend.

Paul Nicholls, who fields Frodon in Saturday's Irish Gold Cup, will be aiming to strike again on Sunday with Bryony Frost on Tingle Creek winner Greaneteen, while Tingle Creek third Captain Guinness also features in the field of five.

The final Grade 1 of the Dublin Racing Festival is the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (3.35) which is headed by Champion Bumper winner Sir Gerhard.

The seven-year-old will seek to follow up a comfortable hurdles debut last month under Paul Townend and his eight rivals include Royal Bond Novice Hurdle one-two Statuaire and My Mate Mozzie.

Minella Times: Grand National winner back in action on Sunday under Rachael BlackmoreCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images)

Last year's Grand National winner Minella Times contests the Bulmers Secret Orchard Leopardstown Handicap Chase (2.25), where he will shoulder topweight of 11st 12lb against 16 rivals.

The nine-year-old was a half-length second in the contest last year in his final start before striking at Aintree under Blackmore and will be seeking to return to form after falling in the John Durkan Chase in December.

What should punters expect of the ground at the Dublin Racing Festival?

Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle runners and riders

Saint Roi Mark Walsh
Zanahiyr Jack Kennedy
Echoes In Rain Paul Townend
Heaven Help Us Danny Mullins
Honeysuckle Rachael Blackmore

Read more:

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