Leopardstown very optimistic Leopardstown Racecourse today announced the declared runners for the Grade 1 BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle and Grade 1 Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase which are due to take place at Leopardstown this Sunday. Rivals Hurricane Fly and Solwhit top the list of the five horses that have been declared to run in this Sunday’s BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle, with Sublimity, Thousand Stars and Voler la Vedette completing the line up. Runners for the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Chase features the winner and runner-up from the Grade 1 Bord na Mona With Nature Novice Chase run at the Christmas Festival, Realt Dubh and Noble Prince, as well as the Jessica Harrington-trained Saludos, in front when he fell at the last fence in that contest. Tom Burke General Manager at Leopardstown said: ‘As expected the line up for Sunday’s card is superb and we are looking forward to a thrilling days racing that includes two Grade 1 contests. Conditions here at Leopardstown have improved greatly since the frost on Wednesday night and with the temperatures forecasted to rise as high as 6 or 7 degrees on Sunday we are very optimistic that racing will go ahead as scheduled.’ First Race: 1.10pm Ground Conditions: ‘Soft’ Declarations BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle (5): Hurricane Fly, Solwhit, Sublimity, Thousand Stars and Voler la Vedette Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase (7): Flat Out, Mr. Cracker, Noble Prince Realt Dubh, Saludos, Shirley Casper and Tramp Stamp
