What's on this week: Honeysuckle heads superstar cast at Dublin Racing Festival

Monday

All eyes are firmly fixed on spotting potential Cheltenham Festival contenders and Punchestown is the place to look with Kilcruit finally seeking to get off the mark over hurdles.

A staggering winner at the Dublin Racing Festival almost 12 months ago, he has been beaten at short odds in his two starts this season but could well book his place at the festival with success in the Punchestown.com Maiden Hurdle (1.20).

Elsewhere, £570,000 purchase Classic Getaway is also out to avenge a surprise defeat as he contends the Festival Hospitality (C & G) Maiden Hurdle (2.50).

In Britain the action takes place over jumps at Hereford and Plumpton, while Wolverhampton hosts an evening fixture starting at 4.30.

Tuesday

Any horse sporting the yellow and black silks of Joe and Marie Donnelly carries a big reputation and State Man will be Tuesday's talking horse, when he lines up in the Follow Limerick Racecourse On Twitter (C & G) Maiden Hurdle (3.10).

As short as 14-1 for the Supreme, the five-year-old fell when a likely winner last time. Connections will hope he can follow a similar path to Shishkin, who also came down on his first outing over hurdles but went on to win the Cheltenham Festival opener.

Newcastle and Ffos Las are also in action, and all-weather racing takes place under the Wolverhampton floodlights again in the evening.

Wednesday

Novice chases at Exeter are usually pretty competitive and the three-mile contest (2.40) on Wednesday looks likely to follow that trend. Nicky Henderson has entered Dusart, while two-time chase winner Pats Fancy could also feature.

Jumping also takes place at Leicester while Flat fans can get stuck into fixtures at Dundalk and Kempton.

Dusart: could feature at Exeter on WednesdayCredit: Getty Images

Thursday

The 3m1f hunter chase (1.40) at Wincanton may not have been on your radar for Cheltenham clues, but it should be this time around with festival hero Porlock Bay going back to the race. He was second last season before denying Billaway on Gold Cup day, and this will be his first start under rules this season.

George Boughey: set to have first jumps runner, albeit in a bumperCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Dick Hunt Handicap Chase (4.10) features a few familiar names while the bumper (4.40) is also intriguing with talented Flat trainer George Boughey set to have his first runner on the other code with Morning Symphony. Monkfish's half-brother Fishcake is also entered.

Kelso, Southwell and Chelmsford are also racing.

Friday

Ask Me Early was denied a shot at the Welsh National when failing to recover in time from a schooling fall, but perhaps he can gain some sort of compensation in the Cazoo Novices' Hurdle (1.55). He could clash with Kim Bailey's exciting prospect Kyntara.

The midweek racing finishes with a jumps card at Catterick and some all-weather action at Lingfield and Newcastle.

Saturday

There is Grade 1 action on either side of the Irish Sea but the Dublin Racing Festival has quickly become one of the key jumps meetings in Ireland and the first day promises to be a cracker.

There are four top-level races, including the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3.15) in which Minella Indo, Kemboy and Asterion Forlonge could all descend on Leopardstown. Paul Nicholls also has Frodon and Clan Des Obeaux entered.

Minella Indo: Cheltenham Gold Cup winner could run in the Irish Gold CupCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

The Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors-sponsored 2m6f novice hurdle looks a mouth-watering prospect with Ginto, Journey With Me and Hollow Games all among the entries, while the Spring Juvenile Hurdle (1.35) and Irish Arkle (2.10) will be fascinating to watch with a view to the big festivals.

The pick of the British action comes from Sandown where the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (2.20) takes place. At Wetherby, the William Hill Towton Novices' Chase (2.30) could feature leading prospect Ahoy Senor.

Musselburgh has its big weekend and Saturday's bet365-sponsored card includes the Frodon Novices' Chase (12.57), Scottish County Hurdle (2.40) and Edinburgh National (3.45).

If Flat racing is more to your liking, two Listed races are contested at Lingfield, while Kempton's evening card adds further interest to the mix.

Sunday

Day two at the Dublin Racing Festival will centre around the sport's superstar Honeysuckle, who looks to extend her unbeaten run to 14 in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (3.00). A new contender in Appreciate It could look to dethrone her, while Willie Mullins will also have Sharjah in the line-up.

While Honeysuckle is the queen, many feel Galopin Des Champs will one day emerge as a king and he is due to run in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase (1.20), aiming to reproduce his sensational performance on debut over fences.

The Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (1.50) is poised to be another brilliant contest with Chacun Pour Soi up against Greaneteen, while Sir Gerhard is the star attraction in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (3.35).

It is worth paying close attention to Musselburgh, while Kempton's all-weather card completes the domestic action.

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