3.00 Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m

Saint Roi: Former County Hurdle winner but has found things tougher since moving up to Grade 1 level and he was well held in fourth in this race last year.

He didn’t run at all badly behind Sharjah on his return at Christmas when beaten just 5l into third but this race does demand more.

Zanahiyr: Quality sort who showed lots of potential as a juvenile and has stepped forward again this season to run a couple of fine races in defeat behind Sharjah, the latest of which saw him lose out by just a neck here at Christmas.

Those runs entitle him to due consideration and even though he is likely to come into his own over further, another decent showing looks entirely likely.

Echoes In Rain: Progressed really well last season and ended her campaign with a Grade 1 win at Punchestown.

However, she has come up short in two runs at Grade 1 level this term with her efforts behind Sharjah and Zanahiyr appearing to leave her with plenty to find against some of the best hurdlers around.

Heaven Help Us: Very smart mare who won the mares’ handicap hurdle at this meeting last year before then going on to strike gold in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham.

Her neck second to Royal Kahala at Christmas was a cracking run and she is a likely contender for Mares’ Hurdle honours at Cheltenham, but this test could be beyond her.

Honeysuckle: Stellar talent who remains unbeaten after 13 starts on the track which have taken in the two last two runnings of this race as well as the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Looked brilliant on her return in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle just over two months ago and everything points to her extending her winning sequence as she holds all the aces.

Honeysuckle can remain unbeaten and win this race for the third year in succession. She is following a path that has served her very well in the past and she simply cannot be opposed in a race where she looks to have everything covered.

Zanahiyr is likely to come into his own over longer trips but his Grade 1 efforts over 2m this season indicate that is the one most likely to chase home the favourite.