The Henry de Bromhead-trained super mare is now 14 wins from 14 runs and equals Bula’s longstanding record, after her win in the €200,00 Grade 1 over 2 miles.

Nestled in third throughout by Rachael Blackmore, the eight-year-old jumped into the lead at the second last flight of hurdles. To the cheers of the crowd in the stands, the mare extended her lead before the final flight, defeating her main market rival Zanahiyr (6/1) by six and a half lengths, with 25/1 Echoes In Rain a further half a length back in third.

14 out of 14!

All class – the brilliant Honeysuckle lands a third @Chanelle_Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle at @LeopardstownRC #DublinRacingFestival@rachaelblackmor | @HenrydeBromhead pic.twitter.com/l1SdHrjmNt

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 6, 2022

Grade 1 treble for Townend and Mullins

The Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Steeplechase of €150,000 was the first of a Grade 1 treble for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins.

Galopin Des Champs (4/9f), highly impressive in a beginners chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, was a comfortable winner of the 2 mile 5 furlongs contest to claim the €88,500 first prize.

Wow – Galopin Des Champs justifies the hype in the Grade 1 @Ladbrokes Novice Chase! #DublinRacingFestival | @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/OuerwjKGYn

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 6, 2022

Half an hour later, the Closutton team was back in the winners’ enclosure as 4/7f Chacun Pour Soi came back to form to take the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Steeplechase, worth €150,000, over 2 miles 1 furlong. It was a third win in succession in the race for the French-bred ten-year-old.

Three from three in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase!

That’s more like it from Chacun Pour Soi at @LeopardstownRC #DublinRacingFestival pic.twitter.com/QMGyxWA6z8

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 6, 2022

Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) of €150,000 run over 2 miles was the final part of a Day 2 treble for jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins.

The Cheveley Park Stud-owned son of Jeremy, Sir Gerhard (8/13f), had enough in hand coming to the last, which neither he nor the runner-up Three Stripe Life (5/1) jumped very well. He ran out a six-length winner with the same distance further back to Colonel Mustard (14/1) back in third.

Sir Gerhard strikes in the @tatts_ireland Novice Hurdle!

The Champion Bumper winner lands top-level honours over hurdles for @PTownend, Willie Mullins and @CPStudOfficial #DublinRacingFestival | @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/AP7iyA120Y

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 6, 2022

Gordon Elliott scored a 1-2 in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle. Davy Russell steered the 7/4 favourite Party Central to victory in the colours of Bective Stud, while the Robcour-owned Say Goodbye (33/1) stayed on for second under jockey Robbie Power, one and a quarter lengths behind the winner.

The Bulmers Secret Orchard Leopardstown Handicap Steeplechase of €125,000 over 2 miles 5 furlongs went to the bottom weight Birchdale (9/2) for Enda Bolger and rider Mark McDonagh.

The winner of the 2 mile Liffey Handicap Hurdle (€125,000) was won by Call Me Lyreen (20/1) while Lily Du Berlais (40/1) was the final winner of the 2022 Dublin Racing Festival as she claimed the highly competitive €100,000 Coolmore N.H. Sires Santiago Irish EBF Mares I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 2) over 2 miles.

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The nine-year-old enjoyed a near perfect season, winning four of his five starts. His wins included the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival and the Group 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown.

His only defeat of the season came in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Chacun Pour Soi could only manage only third place behind Put The Kettle On, though he did set the record straight at Punchestown in April.

Chacun Pour Soi sits alone atop the standings this year. The WellChild Gold Cup winner Minella Indo has been given a mark of 175. Trained by Henry De Bromhead, Minella Indo get the better of stablemate A Plus Tard [172]. Al Boum Photo [170], who was seeking a historic third consecutive win in the race, was third

Another brilliant Cheltenham performance came courtesy of Allaho, who set pulses racing in the Ryanair Chase to earn a mark of 174 and third place in the standings.

Clan Des Obeaux is highest British-rated horse

The highest-rated British horse in the standings is the Paul Nicholls-trained Clan Des Obeaux, whose thrilling Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup victory in April earned a mark of 172 and rates him the equal of A Plus Tard.

Shishkin and Energumene each earned marks of 169 during campaigns full of promise. Shishkin, switched to the larger obstacles having won the previous year’s Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, was undefeated in five starts. His season culminated in winning the Sporting Life Arkle Chase and Doom Bar Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree for trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Nico De Boinville.

Energumene, meanwhile, missed out on a run at Cheltenham but was otherwise unbeaten in four starts, including a pair of Grade 1s at Leopardstown and Punchestown.

Hurdlers

In the Hurdle division, it was the brilliant Honeysuckle leading the way with a rating of 165, clear of a trio of fellow Irish-trained stars on 164, Sharjah, Flooring Porter and Klassical Dream.

Andrew Mealor, BHA Hurdle team leader, said:

“Honours were shared in the staying division between Stayers’ Hurdle winner Flooring Porter and impressive Punchestown scorer Klassical Dream (both 164), and hot on their heels were the leading British stayers Paisley Park (163) and Thyme Hill (162) who served up a cracking finish to the Long Walk Hurdle earlier in the season.

“Overall, 2020-21 was another low-key season for the established hurdlers in ratings terms with Honeysuckle the only hurdler to rate 165+, though we did see some standout performances in the novice division, notably at Cheltenham from Appreciate It (160) and Bob Olinger (159), who both top their respective categories.

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The Closutton trainer and the Cork rider combined for a big-race treble, spearheaded by  Chacun Pour Soi (4/7f).

The brilliant eight-year-old was almost foot-perfect in the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Steeplechase. He comfortably beat Henry de Bromhead’s Notebook (7/2) by six and a half lengths. The winner is next being aimed at the Dublin Racing Festival in February before Cheltenham in March.

Mullins and Townend won the other Grade One on today’s card with Champion Bumper runner-up Appreciate It (7/4f).

Appreciate It came home 9 lengths clear in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle. His record over obstacles is now two wins from two.

Top-weight Castlebawn West (13/2) led from flag fall in the Paddy Power Chase for Mullins and Townend. He dictated the €150,000 race to win by an easy four and a half lengths.

The well-backed Denis O’Regan-ridden French Aseel (7/2f) ran out a 22-length winner of the Paddy Power “Only 4 More Days Until 2021′” 3yo Maiden Hurdle for the Ellmarie Holden stable.

January Jets (7/2) was a 15-length winner of the Paddy Power Games “Don’t Think You’re Special” Beginners Chase for Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead.

Master McShee (5/1) took the Paddy Power “Maybe I Like The Misery” Handicap Hurdle for Ian Power and trainer Paddy Corkery.

Ballycairn (13/2) won the concluding bumper when the unfortunate Reality Cheque (4/11f) broke down close home.

The highlight on Monday is the Grade 1 Savills Chase with 14 horses going to post for the day’s feature.

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The exciting Chacun Pour Soi out of Willie Mullins’ yard was building momentum to knock off the Irish thoroughbred in what was a potentially mouth-watering duel in the Cotswolds course. However, both competitors were forced to withdraw from the contest due to injury, robbing spectators the opportunity of seeing a legend battle it out with a young upstart.

Politologue capitalised on their absences to win the Champion Chase, earning an impressive victory to enhance his reputation. However, all eyes will turn to the talented duo in their return to the track.

Fortunately the 2020/21 National Hunt campaign is on the horizon and will provide the opportunity for the two horses to face off, beginning with the Tingle Creek Chase. Altior is the leading contender to triumph being backed at 10/3 in the horse racing betting odds, while Mullins’ charge is considered an outsider at 12/1 – still with something to prove against quality opposition.

The French thoroughbred has that raw ability that could trouble a truly great horse of Altior’s ilk. He looked excellent from the early days of his career after transferring into Mullins yard in 2016. It took two years for him to make his first appearance, beginning his jumps career in Ireland in the Beginners’ Chase at Naas. Chacun Pour Soi dominated the rest of the field, winning by a huge margin of 31 lengths.

The standards were raised for his second outing at Punchestown in the Ryanair Novice Chase. Defi Du Seuil and Duc Des Genievres were present in the field, with the latter being a stable-mate of Chacun Pour Soi’s and the preferred ride of Paul Townend. Robbie Power took to the reins of the seven-year-old and delivered another accomplished performance. He overcame a couple of minor mistakes and powered down the stretch to beat out his rivals by a comfortable distance, ending his 2018/19 season on a high note.

He returned to action at the end of December after a seven-month layoff at Leopardstown. Although, Chacun Pour Soi was considered the favourite, he was off the pace for the first time since his move to Mullins’ yard and was well beaten by A Plus Tard. However, he returned to form at the Dublin Chase in February with Townend in the saddle. The French thoroughbred was able to see off the threat of his stable-mate Min to close out the win by three-and-three-quarter lengths. The result seemingly handed Chacun Pour Soi the momentum to take into Cheltenham Festival and his clash with Altior, only to suffer a foot abscess which forced the hand of Mullins to withdraw his charge.

His potential and quality are there to see in abundance, although it may take time for him to get up to speed after a long period away from the track. Altior along with Defi Du Seuil and Politologue will not be easily conquered, but Mullins could have another great one at his disposal if Chacun Pour Soi can live up his lofty expectations.

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