HORSES trained in Ireland account for nearly 60% of all entries revealed this week for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle and Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle - an increase from 56% at this stage 12 months ago.
Memorable victories for Honeysuckle (Champion Hurdle) and Flooring Porter (Stayers’ Hurdle) ensured a strong return for the visiting team in last year’s senior Grade 1 hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival, but the home squad may hold the aces in the division this March.
Unbeaten star Constitution Hill headlines 17 entries for the Champion Hurdle, as he bids to likely become the shortest-priced winner in the race’s history - 70 years on from Sir Ken’s success at record odds of 2/5.
It’s difficult to look beyond the Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old, who bolted up by 22 lengths in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but Willie Mullins will field a quality team.
Mullins five-handed
State Man, Vauban and Sharjah, the 1-2-3 from last month’s Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown, are among five possible runners for Ireland’s champion trainer in the day-one feature.
Sir Gerhard, who connections recently suggested is unlikely to run at Cheltenham following a setback, has been given an entry for this race and the Stayers’ Hurdle, while stablemate Echoes In Rain is doubly entered here and in the Mares’ Hurdle.
More will be learned about the participation of reigning dual Champion Hurdle heroine Honeysuckle after her bid for a remarkable fourth Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Owner Kenny Alexander’s racing manager Peter Molony reiterated in recent days that the legendary mare is more likely to be retired than run in the Mares’ Hurdle, but a win at the Dublin Racing Festival would see her right back on track for a potentially epic Champion Hurdle clash with Constitution Hill.
A total of nine Irish-trained runners in the 17 entries are completed by Christmas disappointments Bob Olinger (Henry de Bromhead), Zanahiyr and Pied Piper (Gordon Elliott).
Brandy Love to lead Irish challenge
DEFENDING Mares’ Hurdle champion Marie’s Rock could be set to provide Henderson with a clean sweep of the open Grade 1 races on the first day of the festival after featuring among 24 possible runners.
The home team also hold live chances with the likes of Love Envoi, trained by Harry Fry, and Epatante, who was mistakenly not entered for the race by connections.
She is expected to be supplemented at a cost of £4,599 in March.
However, last year marked only the second time since the race’s inaugural running in 2008 that an Irish-trained runner failed to collect the prize, and Brandy Love – one of five in the race for Willie Mullins – could be Ireland’s main contender in 2023.
Absent since making the breakthrough in Grade 1 company at last year’s Fairyhouse Easter festival, Brandy Love could go straight to Cheltenham and defy a 331-day layoff in the style of six-time Mares’ Hurdle winner Quevega.
Owner Mike Grech’s racing manager Henrietta Knight told The Irish Field: “Brandy Love is very well. She’s working with Willie and is definitely on course. She just came back a bit later this season.
“She may go straight there because she would be better off on a left-handed course. If Willie can do another Quevega I’ll be quite happy! I think Brandy Love is a very good mare.”
Visitors dominate the Stayers’ Hurdle picture
IRISH raiders make up 13 of the 24 possible runners in the Mares’ Hurdle, and no fewer than 19 of the 28 engaged in the Stayers’ Hurdle – likely the best chance of a strike for the visitors across the three contests. The top five in the Stayers’ market hail from Ireland, headed by hat-trick seeking Flooring Porter, Christmas Hurdle 1-2 Home By The Lee and Ashdale Bob, Hatton’s Grace runner-up Klassical Dream and the long-absent Blazing Khal.
Live contender
Teahupoo is another legitimate contender for Gordon Elliott and Robcour, while Willie Mullins - responsible for eight possible runners - has handed intriguing entries to top-quality chasers Monkfish, Chacun Pour Soi and Asterion Forlonge.
Shark Hanlon has one eye on the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup with American Grand National hero Hewick, but has also given his stable star an entry for the Stayers’ Hurdle.