Talking Horses: Honeysuckle primed for sweet victory in Champion Hurdle

Honeysuckle delivered the best performance of her career to win last year’s Champion Hurdle and there is no reason to suspect any of the also-rans 12 months ago can narrow the gap this time.

Appreciate It and Teahupoo, by contrast, are fresh opponents for Honeysuckle with considerable scope for improvement. The time of Teahupoo’s recent Grade Three win at Gowran Park suggests the form is stronger than it might have looked.

Honeysuckle (3.30), though, still has something to spare on form and gets the 7lb mares’ allowance too. The odds are short, but a win under Rachael Blackmore to elevate her further among the hurdling greats will be something to savour.

1.30 The “big three” in the market are unbeaten in seven starts over hurdles and closely matched on form and ratings. Dysart Dynamo’s winning time at Punchestown in January suggests the Irish form could be strongest and he gets the nod at around 5-2.

2.10 Edwardstone has been impressively consistent but he has little in hand on Timeform’s ratings and looks too short at 11-4. Haut En Couleurs (8-1) lacks his experience, which is a concern, but the market gave him a similar chance to stable companion Blue Lord before his fall at Leopardstown last time and his winning form on debut is rock-solid.

2.50 Our Power ran into traffic problems at a vital stage at Kempton last time, but removed any doubts about his stamina for this three-mile trip when staying on well to finish within eight lengths of the winner. At 14-1, he is a very fair price to give Denman’s Gold Cup-winning jockey, Sam Thomas, his first Festival winner as a trainer.

4.10 Almost a private sweepstake for the Irish, who have the first six in the betting. Burning Victory, also very useful on the Flat,could be the