Leopardstown Sunday not to be missed

Five horses, headed by Faugheen and Nichols Canyon, are going forward for the €110,000 BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle this Sunday, 24th January. The Willie Mullins-trained pair served up a thriller in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November and are set to clash again and they will be joined by a their stable companion, Arctic Fire.

Faugheen lost his unbeaten record to Nichols Canyon on that occasion but both have gone on to win since, with Faugheen running out a most impressive winner of the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and his stable companion Nichols Canyon taking the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle on the final day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, bringing his Grade 1 winning tally to six.

Mullins who won the last five renewals of the BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle with the legendary and now retired Hurricane Fly, has also entered Arctic Fire, who was an impressive winner of the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse. Aidan O'Brien saddled Istabraq to win the race on four consecutive occasions between 1998 and 2001 and Ballydoyle trainer has entered Plinth on this occasion, while the Pat Shanahan-trained King Of The Picts completes the line-up.

The €90,000 Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase is the main supporting race and the eight entries for this Grade 1 are headed by Douvan who is out to make it three wins from three starts over fences.

Henry de Bromhead’s impressive Limerick winner Domesday Book and Jessica Harrington’s Ttebbob are interesting contenders while Outlander and Shaneshill, both stable companions of Douvan, are others more than worthy of their entry.

Disko, trained by Noel Meade and the Willie Mullins-trained Petit Mouchoir head the 14 entries for the €42,000 Grade 2 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle.

The race has also attracted Acapella Bourgeois and Chain Gang, both course and distance winners and they could represent trainers Sandra Hughes and Alan Fleming respectively. Gordon Elliott’s impressive Navan winner Whistle Dixie is another intriguing entry.

Pat Keogh, Chief Executive of Leopardstown Racecourse, said, “To have the Mullins' trio of Nichols Canyon, Faugheen and Arctic Fire lining up to contest this enthralling race, makes this one of the top races of the year and another Irish Champion Hurdle to remember. We’re so privileged in Ireland and at Leopardstown to see these horses compete on our very own doorstep. It is a strong card from start to finish and it is great news that Douvan is coming back to Leopardstown for the Grade 1 Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase.”