Newsboy’s ITV Racing tips include Sharjah at the Dublin Racing Festival

SHARJAH is the value to inflict a first career defeat on Honeysuckle in the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (3.15) at Leopardstown today.

Favourite Honeysuckle’s nine victories under Rules include a gritty half-length call over Darver Star in this race 12 months ago, with Sharjah performing well below expectations in sixth place.

That was a rare Foxrock flop on the part of my selection. Sharjah has collected the top-level Mathieson Hurdle over course and distance on three occasions, racking up the hat-trick with a two-length defeat of Aspire Tower over Christmas.

If the Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old turns up at the top of his game – and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t – Honeysuckle will have to produce a personal best in order to defend her unbeaten record.

Mullins and Sharjah’s owner Rich Ricci hold the aces with reigning champion CHACUN POUR SOI in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (1.35).

Mullins was gushing after the French import had humbled stablemate Min by three and three-quarter lengths last February.

And Chacun Pour Soi is a short-priced favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March after landing both outings this winter by an aggregate of 25½ lengths.

There is an all-chase card at Sandown Park, including Cheltenham’s rescheduled Virgin Bet Cotswold Chase (2.20), where SAINT CALVADOS gets the nod.

Beaten a neck by Min in the Ryanair Chase last March, Harry Whittington’s eight-year-old was having his first start since when fourth to Frodon in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Gavin Sheehan’s mount had Santini a length and a half behind in fifth, and is capable of another step forward on his second try at three miles.

After capturing the three-mile Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on the King George undercard, SHAN BLUE has plenty going for him in the Grade 1 Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (1.50).

The way he jumps fences will always stand the Dan Skelton trainee in good stead in the rookie ranks, and the return to two and a half miles is unlikely to be a problem.

Saturday selections

LEOPARDSTOWN

1.05 CAPE GENTLEMAN

1.35 CHACUN POUR SOI

2.10 ENERGUMENE

2.45 EPSON DU HOUX

3.15 SHARJAH

3.50 FRONT VIEW

4.25 CHEMICAL ENERGY

SANDOWN PARK

1.15 DOLOS (NAP)

1.50 SHAN BLUE

2.20 SAINT CALVADOS

2.55 EVANDER

3.00 ASK ME EARLY

4.05 DOSTAL PHIL

MUSSELBURGH

12.57 GETAWAY TRUMP

1.29 OSCAR CEREMONY

2.05 BLAKENEY POINT

2.40 RIKOBOY

3.10 BREGUET BOY

3.45 THE FERRY MASTER (NB)

4.19 ALCALA

WETHERBY

12.50 WEST END LADY

1.22 PAY THE PIPER

1.58 MALPAS

2.30 MAIN FACT

3.38 WETLANDS

4.10 THUNDER ROCK

LINGFIELD PARK

12.00 TALKING POINT

12.35 ONE HART

1.11 FIZZY FEET

1.45 BANGKOK

2.16 SYMBOLIC POWER

2.51 CLASSY DAME

3.25 LONGSIDER

4.00 ARABESCATO

KEMPTON PARK

4.15 ROYAL TOUCH

4.55 FAST EMMA

5.25 SUNS UP GUNS UP

5.55 CONFRERIE

6.30 OCEAN WIND

7.00 FORSEE

7.30 GREY D’ARS

8.00 PERFECT ROSE

8.30 ARIA ROSE

DOUBLE : DOLOS and THE FERRY MASTER

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