Honeysuckle and Galopin Des Champs among star names set for Leopardstown

Honeysuckle, Galopin Des Champs, Chacun Pour Soi, Sir Gerhard and Blue Lord are among the big names to be confirmed at the five-day stage for the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown this weekend.

Last year’s winner Kemboy, the Paul Nicholls-trained Frodon and Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Minella Indo are among nine confirmations for the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup on Saturday.

Dual King George VI Chase winner Clan Des Obeaux and this season’s Kempton hero Tornado Flyer have been taken out of the Grade 1 event.

Leopardstown entries on Saturday

Frodon’s stablemate Greaneteen and the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Sky Pirate are the other British-trained entries across the two days. They are among eight confirmations for the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase on Sunday that also includes Chacun Pour Soi, with Editeur Du Gite, trained by Gary Moore, taken out.

American Mike, ante-post favourite for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, and the similarly-owned stablemate Ginto are other absentees, although trainer Gordon Elliott had indicated as such.

American Mike: likely to head straight to Cheltenham after not featuring in the confirmations for Saturday's bumperCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Honeysuckle will face a maximum of five rivals in her bid for a third Irish Champion Hurdle. This season’s Morgiana and Matheson Hurdle scorer Sharjah will not be in opposition, but Willie Mullins could be represented by Appreciate It, last seen winning the Supreme, Saint Roi and Echoes In Rain.

Another notable absentee for Mullins is dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo, who had been entered in the Grade B 3m handicap hurdle on Saturday.

Dublin Racing Festival: confirmations for the eight Grade 1s plus an early tip

Galopin Des Champs, ante-post favourite for the Brown Advisory, is one of 13 confirmations for the Ladbrokes Novice Chase on Sunday.

Arkle favourite Blue Lord will face his stiffest task yet over fences in the Irish equivalent, in which stablemate Haut En Couleurs and Saint Sam are entered. Riviere D’Etel, second to the now-sidelined Ferny Hollow last time, is the sole mare in the potential line-up.

The Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle that follows the Irish Champion Hurdle on Sunday shapes up to be a cracker. Sir Gerhard, Mighty Potter, Statuaire, My Mate Mozzie, Three Stripe Life and Colonel Mustard are among the possible runners.

There will be Cheltenham Festival pointers right from the off with Albert Bartlett second favourite Journey With Me confirmed for the opening Nathaniel Lacy Solicitors Novice Hurdle on Saturday and leading Triumph fancy Fil Dor set to contest the following Grade 1 juvenile hurdle.

Leopardstown entries on Sunday

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