Horses for Courses

with the Novice Hurdle, followed by the Spring Juvenile Hurdle, The Irish Arkle Chase and Irish Gold Cup. There are also 2 Grade B handicaps: the Leopardstown Hurdle and the Sandyford Chase rounded off with Grade 2 Future Stars bumper.

On Sunday the card opens with the Grade B EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap followed by 4 more Grade 1 races: The Ladbrokes Novice Chase, the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, the Irish Champion Hurdle and the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle.

The Grade A Bulmers Handicap Chase is the 4th race on the card, while the Grade B Liffey Handicap Hurdle and the Grade 2 Coolmore N.H. Sires ‘Santiago’ Irish EBF Mares Bumper brings the finest weekend of Irish racing to a close.

Saturday’s Gold Cup sees 7 go to post with WP Mullins training the first 3 in the betting. Galopin des Champ, long odds-on at 1/3, leads stablemates Stattler (7/2) and Kemboy (8/1). 14/1 bar.

Henry de Bromhead’s ‘wonder mare’ Honeysuckle is seeking a 4th successive Irish Champion Hurdle and is opposed by the Willie Mullins pair State Man, probable favourite, and Vauban, along with the Elliott pair Pied Piper and Zanahiyr, with Tom Mullins’ Takarengo completing the field in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle. Heart rules and the mare to win.

Last week’s highlights

Last week 18 went to post in the Thyestes Chase in Gowran. Willie Mullins had three runners, and with Paul Townend opting to ride Carefully Selected, he duly obliged as well backed favourite at 9/2, with Gordon Elliott training the next three home. Second was Dunboyne under Sam Ewing, third Pencilfulloflead ridden by Rob James, and