The mare was successful in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase for Denise Foster and Jack Kennedy. This weekend she will face just four rivals. However, the Willie Mullins-trained Elimay may prove to be a big threat as she goes in search of another win.

Dual Fairyhouse winner Demi Plie lines up for Pádraig Roche. Cheltenham Festival’s leading trainer this year, Henry de Bromhead, will be represented by Abbey Magic and Zarkareva.

Big fields in handicap hurdles

A full field of 20 is set for the RYBO Handicap Hurdle. The Robbie Burns-trained Thosedaysaregone will carry top-weight in the contest. County Hurdle fourth Eclair De Beaufeu is one of four runners in the race for Denise Foster. Foveros and Rauille Buaille are among from Willie Mullins’ yard. The Henry de Bromhead-trained Hurricane Cliff and Gua Du Large are among the field.

The Timmy Hyde-trained On Eagles Wings leads the 20 runners in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final.  He won the Grade 3 Bar One Racing Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle at Naas on his most recent start. He will face the Robert Murphy-trained Darrens Hope, a winner at Limerick three weeks ago. Folcano, a course winner in February, is one of three runners for Denise Foster.

Party Central represents Foster in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Total Enjoyment Mares Flat Race for which 11 horses have been declared. Recent winners Derrylinda and Limerick Lace carry the hopes of Gavin Cromwell. Interestingly, Willie Mullins has Brooklynn Glory entered in the race, a horse that is closely linked in form with Party Central.

The three-day Easter Festival begins with the Boomerang.ie Maiden Hurdle where Noel Meade’s Mare Quimby will be among the leading fancies. Jury Duty and course winner Stand Up And Fight head the runners in the Frank & Teresa O’Reilly Memorial Hunters Chase. Leopardstown winner Super Citizen has his chance in the McCauley Pharmacy Ladies National Handicap Chase for Eugene and Maxine O’Sullivan. Dual bumper winners Flame Bearer and Letsbeclearaboutit, trained by Pat Doyle and Gavin Cromwell respectively, are among the contenders for the Jetaway.ie At Arctic Tack Stud INH Flat Race.

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Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle

Henry de Bromhead’s Honeysuckle faces five rivals in the feature race, the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle.

The Rachael Blackmore-ridden unbeaten superstar will face three from the Willie Mullins stable. Triple Matheson Hurdle winner Sharjah heads Mullins’ team. The champion handler is also represented by Saint Roi and Saldier. Gordon Elliott saddles both Abacadabras and Petit Mouchoir. The latter horse won the 2017 Irish Champion Hurdle when trained by Henry de Bromhead.

Ladbroke’s Dublin Chase

Six horses line up in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase. Mullins will again have three in this race. Last year’s first and second, Chacun Pour Soi and Min, and Tornado Flyer will represent the Closutton handler.

The 2020 Arkle Novice Chase victor, Notebook, represents Henry de Bromhead in this contest. Jessica Harrington runs Sizing Pottsie and Joseph O’Brien saddles Fakir D’oudairies.

Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors ‘€50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle

The first of Saturday’s Grade 1 races is the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors ‘€50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle. Course winners Gaillard Du Mesnil and Stattler head Mullins’ strong team. Emmet Mullins runs another leading fancy in Cape Gentleman. Gavin Cromwell has Vanillier in the field. Mouse Morris will be represented by Gentlemansgame. Jessica Harrington’s Ashdale Bob and the Gordon Elliott-trained Fakiera are other notable runners in a field of 13.

Patrick Ward & Company Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase

Willie Mullins launches a strong challenge for the Patrick Ward & Company Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase. The champion trainer runs Energumene, Franco De Port, Unexcepted and Blackbow. Gavin Cromwell saddles Darver Star, while Henry de Bromhead runs Captain Guinness. Gordon Elliott’s Felix Desjy is another strong entry in the race.

The Matheson Handicap Chase

The Matheson Handicap Chase has a full field of 20. Epson Du Houx will be seeking a hat-trick. Emmet Mullins’ The Shunter, Aramax, trained by Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins’ pair, Pont Aven and Andalusa are likely to be some of the main players in the race.

Ladbroke’s Hurdle

Twenty two runners will line up for the Ladbrokes Hurdle. The Eddie Cawley-trained Golden Jewel was runner-up in the contest a year ago. Topping the weights is the Willie Mullins-trained Buildmeupbuttercup. Paul O’Flynn saddles West Cork Wildway. Eclair De Beaufeu is a likely strong challenger for the race, having won the Matheson Handicap Chase in 2020.  Noel Meade’s Hes A Hardy Bloke, the Gavin Cromwell-trained Gabynako, and the Charles Byrnes-trained Advanced Virgo could also be in the reckoning.

Goffs Future Stars INH Flat Race

The Goffs Future Stars INH Flat Race, won by Envoi Allen in 2019 and Appreciate It last year, will have ten runners. Gordon Elliott relies on Chemical Energy, Willie Mullins runs three. The Closutton team is Kilcruit, Whatdeawant and Ramillies. Gavin Cromwell’s Letsbeclearaboutit and the Emmet Mullins-trained Noble Yeats are also included.

The first of a seven-race card is underway at 1.05pm. There will be TV coverage on RTÉ, ITV and Racing TV.

A free racecard for Saturday can be accessed here.

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2/1 favourite Epatante, a six-year-old mare, is the fifth of her sex to win the Champion Hurdle, and the first since Annie Power in 2016. She beat the Willie Mullins-trained Sharjah (16/1) by three lengths in what was a ninth success in the race for owner J P McManus.

Sharjah briefly threatened on the run to the last hurdle, while Darver Star (17/2), trained by 2019 Unibet Champion Hurdle winning trainer Gavin Cromwell, ran with huge credit to finish in third place.

The winner, Epatante, was unplaced in the G2 novice mares’ hurdle at The Festival last year, but Geraghty said: “She got lit up on the day last year, when we put the hood on her. She was keen at Exeter and we just felt that the occasion was going to light her up, so we put the hood on her. She ran with the choke out. We plugged her ears today – she settled lovely yet travelled sweetly. There are always a lot of decisions to be made in the run up to a race and thankfully, they went right, as they can often go wrong.”

3.30pm Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

1 Epatante (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson & Barry Geraghty 2/1f

2 Sharjah (Susannah Ricci) Willie Mullins & Mr Patrick Mullins 16/1

3 Darver Star (SSP Number Twenty Two Syndicate) Gavin Cromwell & Jonathan Moore 17/2

17 ran.

Distances: 3, 3¾.

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