Honeysuckle tasty enough for Champion bid and exhibition stuff from Latest

It is hard to be too sweet on Honeysuckle's victory in the PCI Irish Champion Hurdle on the first day of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown, but we are not asking her to beat Frankel or Arkle, just show up in what looks an open Unibet Champion Hurdle.

The naturally pessimistic Henry de Bromhead might favour the Mares' Hurdle, which is registered as the David Nicholson, although that will not be a penalty kick with the brilliant Benie Des Dieux a likely rival, so perhaps Honeysuckle's owner Kenny Alexander – the boss of betting behemoth GVC – will be up for a Champion Hurdle gamble.

Chacun Pour Soi will have plenty of supporters for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase after his effort in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, but might have to step up again to live with Defi Du Seuil and a rejuvenated Altior in March.