The social sharing buttons have been hidden due to cookie preferences. Please allow functional cookies for this to work.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Honeysuckle ran valiantly in defeat in the Irish Champion Hurdle but retirement is beckoning for the three-time Cheltenham Festival winner.
Trainer Henry de Bromhead’s superstar mare will be given one last hurrah at the March meeting, however, despite a crack at a third successive Champion Hurdle being ruled out by connections.
That is because connections have decided to pursue the Mares’ Hurdle – a race Honeysuckle won in 2020 – for her final assignment on the track.
Peter Molony, who manages owner Kenny Alexander’s racing interests, tweeted: “One last hurrah for Honeysuckle! Barring accidents, injury, illness or extremes of ground, she will be prepared for another tilt at the Mares’ Hurdle.”
Honeysuckle failed in her quest for a fourth Irish Champion Hurdle as State Man came out on top by 4¾l.
Speaking after the race, Alexander suggested that she could be sent to the breeding shed.
“Maybe the time has come,” he said. “It’s up to Henry – if he wants to chuck it in now, just get her out, safe and sound. She’s still very high class, but not as good as she was.
“She ran her heart out but age catches up with them all.”
He added: “We will definitely not be taking on Constitution Hill after that because she’s so brave I would fear for her and we are not fannying around for place money.
“Young pretenders – certainly one of them – has overtaken her, and there is one in England.
“I’d dread for anything to happen to her now.”
Honeysuckle went into her final campaign boasting an unbeaten status but could only finish third in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle on seasonal reappearance before finding State Man too hot to handle at Leopardstown.
De Bromhead echoed Alexander’s sentiment about swerving the Champion Hurdle and highlighted the prospect of tackling the Mares’ Hurdle – a race Honeysuckle won in 2020.
“The plan was to finish out this season and we’ll see. It’s not for me to say,” he said.
“If it was up to me I wouldn’t be running her in the Champion Hurdle, if we were to run again I’d run her in the Mares’ Hurdle. I wouldn’t like to force it. She’s still in mighty form and she ran really well.”
Will Honeysuckle retire before Cheltenham Festival or run in the Mares’ Hurdle?
It's been decided...
By Alex Harris / Cheltenham Festival, Horse Racing News / 2 months ago
The social sharing buttons have been hidden due to cookie preferences. Please allow functional cookies for this to work.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Honeysuckle ran valiantly in defeat in the Irish Champion Hurdle but retirement is beckoning for the three-time Cheltenham Festival winner.
Trainer Henry de Bromhead’s superstar mare will be given one last hurrah at the March meeting, however, despite a crack at a third successive Champion Hurdle being ruled out by connections.
WELCOME TO PADDY POWER NEWS!
That is because connections have decided to pursue the Mares’ Hurdle – a race Honeysuckle won in 2020 – for her final assignment on the track.
Peter Molony, who manages owner Kenny Alexander’s racing interests, tweeted: “One last hurrah for Honeysuckle! Barring accidents, injury, illness or extremes of ground, she will be prepared for another tilt at the Mares’ Hurdle.”
Honeysuckle failed in her quest for a fourth Irish Champion Hurdle as State Man came out on top by 4¾l.
Speaking after the race, Alexander suggested that she could be sent to the breeding shed.
“Maybe the time has come,” he said. “It’s up to Henry – if he wants to chuck it in now, just get her out, safe and sound. She’s still very high class, but not as good as she was.
“She ran her heart out but age catches up with them all.”
He added: “We will definitely not be taking on Constitution Hill after that because she’s so brave I would fear for her and we are not fannying around for place money.
“Young pretenders – certainly one of them – has overtaken her, and there is one in England.
“I’d dread for anything to happen to her now.”
Honeysuckle went into her final campaign boasting an unbeaten status but could only finish third in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle on seasonal reappearance before finding State Man too hot to handle at Leopardstown.
De Bromhead echoed Alexander’s sentiment about swerving the Champion Hurdle and highlighted the prospect of tackling the Mares’ Hurdle – a race Honeysuckle won in 2020.
“The plan was to finish out this season and we’ll see. It’s not for me to say,” he said.
“If it was up to me I wouldn’t be running her in the Champion Hurdle, if we were to run again I’d run her in the Mares’ Hurdle. I wouldn’t like to force it. She’s still in mighty form and she ran really well.”
Read More on the Cheltenham Festival 2023
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
- Cheltenham Festival 2023 day-by-day schedule and race times
- When is the Mares’ Hurdle? Cheltenham date, start time, runners and betting
- Cheltenham Festival: Paddy Power’s antepost favourites for the 2023 championship races
The latest racing odds are on PaddyPower.com nowThe Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
What do you think?
The social sharing buttons have been hidden due to cookie preferences. Please allow functional cookies for this to work.
Cheer
Jeer
Latest Posts
Ruby Walsh: Galopin Des Champs could be best staying chaser since Kauto Star
Ruby Walsh / Cheltenham Festival / 7 days ago
Ruby Walsh: Impaire Et Passe could be Willie Mullins’ 2024 Champion Hurdle horse
Ruby Walsh / Cheltenham Festival / 1 week ago
Ruby Walsh: Constitution Hill would stick to hurdles if he was mine!
Ruby Walsh / Cheltenham Festival / 1 week ago
More Horse Racing News
Follow us on