Racing Post

Will Honey’s flame reignite?

3.10 Leopardstown

STUART REDDING

Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle

2m, Grade 1

The contenders

There won’t be many runners but this promises to be a fascinating clash between probably the best three hurdlers in Ireland.

State Man did not win his maiden hurdle until February 2022, but ended last season with victories at big festivals and has added two Grade 1s this winter. The six-year-old was far too strong for Vauban over course and distance in December and it will take a smart effort to lower his colours.

Honeysuckle won 16 times in a row including three runnings of this race and had looked unbeatable over hurdles but that theory was obliterated at Fairyhouse in December when she could finish only third behind Teahupoo and Klassical Dream. It looked as though she would win jumping two out and everyone is entitled to an off-day but Henry de Bromhead’s star mare has a question or two to answer now.

Three Grade 1 victories proved Vauban was the leading juvenile hurdler of his generation but he was no match for State Man when they clashed here in December. His stablemate had the advantage of a recent run that day but the five-year-old needs to take a step forward if he is going to gain revenge.

The vet noted that Pied Piper was clinically abnormal when flopping in the race won by State Man over course and distance last time but he was less than three lengths behind Vauban at Cheltenham last March and kicked off this season with two victories. Gordon Elliott’s five-year-old could easily bounce back.

Zanahiyr regularly went close in Grade 1 contests last season (including this race) but he fell when still leading at Aintree in April and hasn’t looked the same horse in two starts this winter.

Race tactics

Even in small fields State Man and Honeysuckle tend to track the pace while Vauban has never made the running over hurdles.

Pied Piper made all at Down Royal in November and is the most likely pacemaker in the field.

Punting pointers

This is quite a mature market and there are unlikely to be any massive moves between now and Sunday.

Faugheen in 2018 was the only losing favourite since 2010 and even he finished second, so it doesn’t pay to get too imaginative.

Paul Townend doesn’t tend to ask State Man for maximum effort and I wouldn’t expect him to win by more than four or five lengths.

JUMPS RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

en-ie

2023-02-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-02-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

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