Five horses that can lay down markers this weekend ahead of Cheltenham.
Supasundae - 13:25 Leopardstown
All the talk for the Irish Champion Hurdle will be around Apples Jade but she hasn’t raced over 2m since 2016 and looks rather short in the market considering the field. Supasundae is one of the most consistent sorts in the game over a number of distances and will be a major player at Cheltenham regardless of the race connections target.
There aren’t many superlatives that haven’t already been used to describe Nicky Henderson’s star hurdler whilst the loss in the Christmas Hurdle will sting, expect a roaring return at Sandown in a race he has won the previous two renewals. The Champion Hurdle favourite could go odds-on with a commanding trademark performance.
Vinndication remains unbeaten in rules races and is favourite to take the Scilly Isles despite being up against talented opposition in Lostintranslation and Defi Du Seuil. The six-year-old scarily still might have much more to offer and could go for the JLT or the RSA in March. Kim Bailey believes his best will be three-miles so it might be worth taking the 14/1 on the RSA before the the race.
Min’s record at Leopardstown speaks for itself, winning two from three and only losing by half a length in the other. One of those wins was in this same race last year, where Mullins’ horse breezed to a 12-length victory. He will likely be sent to the Ryanair at Cheltenham to avoid Altior and could be clear favourite tomorrow afternoon.
Knocknanuss - 15:45 Leopardstown
Gary Moore wouldn’t be sailing his nine-year-old across the Irish Sea if he didn’t think he could upset the locals. He drops back to 2m1f, a distance that has proved to be optimum for the front-runner and will be all the rage for the Arkle should he topple Le Richebourg.
