De Bromhead leaning towards Irish Champion Hurdle test for unbeaten Honeysuckle

Henry de Bromhead is favouring the PCI Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on February 1 as the pre-Cheltenham target for Honeysuckle, and the unbeaten mare could face three previous winners with Apple's Jade, Supasundae and Petit Mouchoir also among the 14 entries.

Honeysuckle has had a break since landing the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle by nine lengths at Fairyhouse on December 1, and De Bromhead said on Monday: “She’s in very good form and we’re very happy with her.

“She'll run next in either the Irish Champion Hurdle or the Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran Park two weeks later. At this stage we’re leaning towards the Leopardstown race.”

Dawn Run (1984), Like-A-Butterfly (2003) and Apple's Jade (2019) are the only mares to have won the Irish Champion Hurdle.

Supasundae, winner of the race in 2018 and runner-up a year ago, is set to have his first run since finishing second to Buveur D’Air in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle in May.

His trainer Jessica Harrington said: “The Irish Champion Hurdle looks a nice starting point for Supasundae. The Champion Hurdle is wide open this season and it's our main objective with him.

“The Irish Champion Hurdle is his only Leopardstown entry. We've been training him with the spring festivals in mind and he appears to be in good form.”

Harrington is hoping Sizing John will make the line-up for the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup, which he won in 2017 before going on to land the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Punchestown Gold Cup.

The ten-year-old was off the track for two years before returning to action over hurdles at Punchestown last month when he fell three out.

Robbie Power celebrates Sizing John's Irish Gold Cup win in 2017Credit: Patrick McCann

Harrington said: "Of all the things to have happened, Sizing John falling was the last thing I wanted.

"He was back cantering this morning but he was very sore after Punchestown. When they're sore like that, it's quite hard to get them back. Having said that, I'm hoping he'll get to the Irish Gold Cup. Definitely the plan is to run him there."

The 15 entries for the Irish Gold Cup also include Delta Work, winner of the Grade 1 Savills Chase over course and distance last month, Kemboy, Presenting Percy and Anibale Fly, along with Bellshill and Road To Respect, first and second in last year's race. La Bague Au Roi is the only British-trained entry.

A Plus Tard, who landed the Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting and who is entered for the Betway Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, is among the 14 entries for the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase on February 1.

A Plus Tard (nearside) beats Chacun Pour Soi in the Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Club ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Henry de Bromhead, the six-year-old's trainer, said: "It's quite possible A Plus Tard will go back to Leopardstown. The decision we have to make is whether to run him there or go straight to Cheltenham."

The entries for the 2m1f event also include Chacun Pour Soi, runner-up to A Plus Tard at Christmas, Min, winner of the Dublin Chase for the past two years, and the Nicky Richards-trained Simply Ned, a regular visitor to Leopardstown and runner-up in the race two years ago.

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