Honeysuckle heads Irish Champion field but no Envoi Allen in Saturday line-up

Exciting mare Honeysuckle will face nine rivals in the PCI Irish Champion Hurdle (3.10) on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday, but star novice Envoi Allen will not be among the names on show that afternoon.

The six-year-old has been tipped by many to make her mark in Cheltenham's Unibet Champion Hurdle this spring and she will put those credentials to the test against Aramon, Darver Star, Klassical Dream, Monsieur Lecoq, Petit Mouchoir, Saglawy, Sharjah, Supasundae and Ballycaines.

Apple's Jade was the only absentee from the forfeit stage.

The card also includes the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (1.25), in which the well-regarded Chacun Pour Soi runs, taking on his Willie Mullins-trained stablemates Min, Cilaos Emery and Duc Des Genievres.

A Plus Tard is also declared for the Honeysuckle duo of Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore, and the pair also combine on Saturday with the smart Notebook, who takes his chance in the ERSG Arkle Novice Chase (2.00). His rivals include Mullins inmates Bapaume, Cash Back and Melon plus the classy Fakir D'Oudairies.

Envoi Allen: still has an entry at Leopardstown on SundayCredit: Alain Barr (racingpost.com/photos)

The other Grade 1 on the bill is the Nathaniel Lacy & Ptnrs Solicitors 50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff Novice Hurdle (12.50), but while Envoi Allen misses that, he could still run at the meeting in Sunday's Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle.

Dublin Racing festival: Saturday's final fields

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