Paul Townend mount backed into 6-1 from 14 for Leopardstown opener

Historique Reconce has been backed into 6-1 for the opening 2m1½f mares' handicap hurdle at Leopardstown, having been 14-1 with Betfair Sportsbook on Saturday afternoon.

The six-year-old is one of three runners in the race for Willie Mullins and made a successful start for the stable when winning a mares' maiden hurdle at Tramore in August. This is her first start since and she is partnered by Paul Townend for her handicap debut in Ireland.

Historique Reconce's stablemate Risk Belle tops the betting at a best-price 11-4 (from 7-2) with bet365.

State Man's position at the head of the market for the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (3.10) at Leopardstown has strengthened, with the top hurdler shortened to 5-6 favourite (from evens) with bet365.

The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old, who has won his last five starts, takes on Honeysuckle for the first time. The star mare has won this race for the last three years and drifted out to 9-4 on Sunday morning before being cut to 2-1.

Gavin Cromwell saddled two winners from two runners on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival and the betting suggests Vanillier is the pick of his three in the Bulmers Leopardstown Handicap Chase (2.40).

Vanillier, winner of the 2021 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, finished last of six behind Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan at Punchestown last time but tries handicap company for the first time this afternoon.

Keith Donoghue's mount sports cheekpieces for the first time and is an intriguing contender. He has been backed into 10-1 with bet365, having been 16-1 on Saturday night.

Cromwell saddles Ilikedwayurthinkin – a 12-1 shot – and 33-1 chance Malina Girl. The betting is headed by 5-1 favourite Indigo Breeze, whose trainer Gordon Elliott was out of luck at Leopardstown on Saturday but landed the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase with Gerri Colombe at Sandown.

At Musselburgh, debut juvenile hurdle winner Shared has been cut to 17-2 (from 14) for the bet365 Scottish Triumph Hurdle (1.22). Shared scored at 25-1 on his first start for Harry Derham at Wetherby ten days ago and could be a player in an open race.

Market movers

1.10 Leopardstown Historique Reconce 6-1 (from 14)
1.22 Musselburgh Shared 17-2 (from 14)
2.40 Leopardstown Vanillier 10-1 (from 16)
3.10 Leopardstown State Man 5-6 (from evens)
3.25 Musselburgh Dr Shirocco 4-1 (from 8)
4.10 Leopardstown Fortunedefortunata 9-1 (from 14), Whatsavailable 14-1 (from 22)

Honeysuckle's crown is slipping and Willie Mullins' battalion are looking to strike

The racing world seems to have already written off Honeysuckle. The dual Champion Hurdle winner had carried all before her but her flawless 16-win streak came to an end at Fairyhouse in December. That was only the first defeat of her stunning career so why are we so ready to doubt her here?

Maybe you are not part of the presumptive 'we' but State Man's favouritism in the Irish Champion Hurdle (3.10) suggests that plenty are. The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old was a ready winner over Vauban in the Matheson Hurdle, but is that bare form enough to beat an on-song Honeysuckle? The jury is out.

State Man: takes on Honeysuckle in the Sunday featureCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Mullins collected three Grade 1 races on Saturday and has three short-priced favourites today, with Champion Chase hopeful Blue Lord looking to have a penalty kick in the Dublin Chase (2.10).

The odds suggest that Facile Vega has the same opportunity in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (3.40), but High Definition is a worthy adversary. Rated 119 at his peak on the Flat, he could easily step up on the bare form of his hurdling debut win.

Away from the Mullins extravaganza, Gordon Elliott unleashes the Turners favourite Mighty Potter, who was a comfortable Grade 1 win at Fairyhouse in December. He reopposes Gaillard Du Mesnil, who was no match for him that day.

It is another star-studded day, let the show begin!

Conditions update

There was just 1mm of rain at Leopardstown on Saturday and the going is described as yielding, good to yielding in places (from yielding) on the hurdles course. It remains yielding on the chase course.

Clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer said: "It's mainly yielding ground on the hurdle track and just a fraction better ground in a few places. We've added in a hurdle in the back straight – if low sun is going to be a factor, we'll jump seven hurdles rather than eight over two miles, but if it's cloudy, we'll jump nine. It will still be a test of a horse's jumping ability.

"Temperatures are set to reach eight degrees and there should be some sunshine this afternoon."

The going is good to soft, good in places on the chase course and good, good to soft in places on the hurdle course at Musselburgh for the final day of its Festival trials weekend, while the ground has dried out to good (from good, good to soft in places) at Hereford.

Read these next: 

The Punt Acca: Owen Goulding's three horse racing tips at Leopardstown on Sunday   

ITV Racing tips: one key runner in each of the eight races on ITV4 on Sunday  

Make the most of the jumps with 50% off Members' Club for the rest of the season  

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.