Unbeaten in four outings over timber, Champion Hurdle entry HONEYSUCKLE returns to action. She ended last season with victory in a Grade 1 novices event over course and distance and Henry De Bromhead’s mare looks set for another successful year. She’s weighted to beat the Willie Mullins’ duo and Grade 2 winners Mister Blue Sky and Easy Game on these terms, though Canardier has a conditional’s allowance helping his cause. The Moyglass Flyer and Camden Village are maiden hurdle upped in class for powerful yards but it remains to be seen how well they cope with the level of today’s opposition.
Canardier (FR) 7-1jfav (11-3) Rear of mid-division on inner, went 14th 2 out, ridden entering straight, went 8th at last, no extra, 7th of 25, 11l behind Mr Adjudicator (11-9) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Easy Game (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Towards rear, 8th on outer 4 out, ridden and no impression from 2 out, 7th of 11, 15 1/2l behind Reserve Tank (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in May.
Mister Blue Sky (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Waited with towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway from before 3 out, moderate 3rd after next and one pace, slight mistake last, 3rd of 6, 16 1/2l behind Klassical Dream (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Yielding in Apr.
The Moyglass Flyer (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Prominent, not always fluent jumping, led approaching 4th, headed from 2 out, soon switched left, led again approaching last where not fluent and soon headed, stayed on well run-in and back in front near line, won at Thurles 2m mdn gd in Nov beating Exceeded Brief (11-2) by nk, 16 ran.
Camden Village (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Towards rear, 14th after 9th, headway before 11th, progress to 3rd after 3 out, soon switched right between horses, ridden in 2nd after 2 out, stayed on well to lead closing stages, won at Cork 3m mdn Good - Yielding in Apr beating Where Eagles Dare (11-12) by 1/2l, 19 ran.
Honeysuckle 6-4fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, challenged 4 out, narrow lead after 3 out, pushed out to assert before last, kept on strongly run-in, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in Apr beating Elfile (11-7) by 5 1/2l, 16 ran.
