SHOOTER Mullins’ Champion Hurdle hope can get better of tasty clash with Honey

SHARJAH is the value to inflict a first career defeat on Honeysuckle in the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (3.15) at Leopardstown today.

Favourite Honeysuckle’s nine victories under Rules include a gritty half-length call over Darver Star in this race 12 months ago – with Sharjah performing well below expectations in sixth.

That was a rare flop on the part of my selection as Sharjah has collected the top-level Mathieson Hurdle over course and distance on three occasions, racking up the hat-trick with a two-length defeat of Aspire Tower over Christmas.

If Willie Mullins’ Cheltenham Festival Champion Hurdle hope turns up at the top of his game, Honeysuckle (right) will have to produce a personal best in order to defend her unbeaten record.

Mullins and Sharjah’s owner Rich Ricci hold the aces with reigning champion CHACUN POUR SOI in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (1.35).

Mullins was gushing after the French import had humbled stablemate Min by three and three-quarter February.

And Chacun Pour Soi is a short-priced favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March after landing both outings this winter by an aggregate of 25½ lengths.

There is an all-chase card at Sandown, including Cheltenham’s rescheduled Virgin Bet Cotswold Chase (2.20), where gets the nod.

Beaten a neck by Min in the Ryanair Chase last March, Harry Whittington’s eight-year-old was having his first start since when fourth to Frodon in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Gavin Sheehan’s mount had Santini a length and a half behind in fifth, and is capable of another step forward on his second try at three miles.

After capturing the three-mile Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on the King George undercard, SHAN BLUE has much going for him in the Grade 1 Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (1.50).

The way he jumps fences will lengths

SAINT CALVADOS

last always stand the Dan Skelton trainee in good stead in the rookie ranks and the return to two and a half miles is unlikely to be a problem.

Skelton’s mentor Paul Nicholls is the man to stick with in the opening Virgin Bet Handicap Chase (1.15), where seeks to defy top weight.

There was plenty to like about the Ditcheat runner’s return-toaction fourth to Rouge Vif over two miles at Cheltenham in October.

And Dolos didn’t last home over and additional four furlongs in the rescheduled Peterborough

DOLOS

Chase at the home racing last time out.

Like Skelton, Harry Fry learned his trade at Nicholls’ feet, and his ASK ME EARLY is on a roll as he seeks to rack up a hat-trick against seven rivals in the Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase (3.30).

The Virgin Bet Warriors Handicap Chase (2.55) is an open affair but EVANDER has been a model of consistency throughout his career and another good run is on the cards.

Wetherby stages the rescheduled William Hill Cleeve Hurdle (2.30), lost from Cheltenham seven days ago, where MAIN FACT gets the chance to resume winning ways after a below-par showing in Ascot’s Long Distance Hurdle six days before Christmas.

The ITV cameras are also rolling at Musselburgh, where the demands of the bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase (3.45) should play to the strengths of THE FERRY

MASTER.

of jump

Earlier on the card, BLAKENEY POINT gets the vote for the bet365 Scottish Champion Hurdle (2.05).