UPDATED 12:44PM, APR 28 2021
Mark Walsh will ride Epatante for the first time when she bids to exact revenge on Honeysuckle in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday.
Successful under Barry Geraghty in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last year, the Nicky Henderson-trained Epatante needed a new partner after the rider s retirement so connections turned to Aidan Coleman.
However, the new duo were no match for Honeysuckle as she sauntered to victory in the Champion Hurdle last month, beating the third-placed Epatante by nine and a half lengths.
Walsh, a senior figure in the Irish jumps weighing room, is among the inner circle of Epatante s owner JP McManus and has had more rides in Ireland for him than anyone else.
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