Honeysuckle's Path to Triumph in the Champion Hurdle

With the festival introducing a fourth day and new race categories, the final entries for top contenders only solidify after the five-day declaration phase.

Peter Molony, responsible for acquiring Honeysuckle for Kenny Alexander, delights fans by almost excluding the Mares Hurdle, leaving the Champion Hurdle as her main focus, a title she's held for the past two years.

Though a rarity, Honeysuckle's singular setback in eighteen outings raised eyebrows, but early in her career, despite five Grade 1 wins, she perhaps didn't receive the acclaim she deserved.

Honeysuckle Cheltenham Target

The arrival of Constitution Hill has certainly shaken the hierarchy, disrupting the path for many otherwise leading contenders. Champion Hurdle contenders Honeysuckle and her fellow mare Epatante, a former Champion, find themselves facing new challenges, with Epatante having been runner-up and third in her most recent appearances.

Despite being defeated twice by Constitution Hill and missing a crucial entry, Epatante's team is contemplating an alternate route, possibly gearing up to return to strategy. the Mares Hurdle Nicky Henderson's team is expected to enter Epatante into the upcoming races, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown.

Honeysuckle displayed her prowess last season by securing four Grade 1 victories by a considerable margin, although her recent debut wasn't stellar, improvement is anticipated.

As the Cheltenham agenda nearly settles, anticipation surrounds her next performance in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Dublin Racing Festival, which might dictate her future trajectory.

Irish Champion Hurdle

Apart from Constitution Hill, Willie Mullins is strong-armed in the Champion Hurdle competition with State Man and Vauban, both formidable presences expected in March.

Both contenders are slated to engage in an intense encounter with Honeysuckle at the forthcoming Dublin Racing Festival.

State Man, with five successive wins post a Leopardstown fall, steps up, delivering impressive Grade 1 performances, while Vauban remains a worthy challenger.

While Mullins' duo promises potential, underestimating Honeysuckle based on one not-so-strong outing might be imprudent.

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Honeysuckle's team might gain insight from Nicky Henderson's comments on Constitution Hill's preference for trials, narrowing options, yet making Leopards town an optimal choice.

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Is Constitution Hill vulnerable?

Interpreting recent comments, it seems Constitution Hill might skip other trials for a direct Cheltenham entry, banking on enhancing performance in the interval.

Several narratives suggest we might witness the much-anticipated race clash earlier at Leopardstown, potentially setting the stage for a Cheltenham rematch, with possible alternatives like Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park.

Reviewing Champion Hurdle odds brings to light candidates like Love Envoi, Echoes In Rain, and Sir Gerhard in the ante-post market, hinting at an eventual compact field featuring Bob Olinger.

Given current scenarios, supplementing Honeysuckle in these races seems unlikely.

Mares Hurdle

Impressing earlier, Marie's Rock continues as a favorite following the Relkeel Hurdle triumph, navigating a long course at Cheltenham.

Love Envoi, having performed brilliantly at Sandown, establishes herself as a noteworthy contender, with existing interest in Echoes In Rain and Telmesomethinggirl adding layers of excitement.

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