Honeysuckle

Connections of Honeysuckle have announced the popular nine-year-old will have one final run in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival ...

on Tuesday 14th of March." He said: "One last hurrah for Honeysuckle! Having lost her long unbeaten record first time out this season in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse behind Teahupoo and Klassical Dream, hopes were high she would return to winning ways at Leopardstown last weekend.

Honeysuckle, who suffered only the second defeat of her career in the Irish Champion Hurdle on Sunday, will not defend her crown in the Champion Hurdle ...

A tilt at a third Champion Hurdle had been open to doubt since December when the nine-year-old suffered the first defeat of her career in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle. The brilliant mare was beaten for the second time this season, and only the second time in her career, when runner-up to State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday, a race she had won in the previous three years. Honeysuckle will not defend her Champion Hurdle crown at Cheltenham after connections announced she would have the final start of her illustrious career in the Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival instead.

When it comes to racing, it's all about winners and connections of Honeysuckle are right to head to the Cheltenham Festival with the realistic target of the ...

The Cheltenham parade ring will be swamped, tickets are likely to sell out and the eyes of an equine nation will be fixed on her as the final act awaits. That's what sport is all about and racing will be the big winner. Some will say that connections are running scared of the top two in the Champion Hurdle, but there's a big difference between bravery and madness, especially when her trip to the Cotswolds will be a last hurrah.

Honeysuckle, one of the stars of Henry de Bromhead's Knockeen stable in Waterford, will make a final appearance at next month's Cheltenham Festival.

Barring accidents, injury, illness or extremes of ground she will be prepared for another tilt at The Close Brothers Mares Hurdle Gd1 At last year's Festival, Honeysuckle claimed her second Champion Hurdle in the hands of jockey Rachael Blackmore. However, it has now been confirmed she will feature at the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

After the race Nicky Henderson said Nico de Boinville "couldn't believe how far clear he was without having to give the horse a click" – an ominous sign of ...

Honeysuckle to be aimed at Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival](/news/festivals/cheltenham-festival/one-last-hurrah-honeysuckle-to-be-aimed-at-mares-hurdle-at-the-cheltenham-festival-au9Rv6f9Xprz/) [Can State Man beat Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle? On the same day, State Man (158) laid down a marker in the Champion Novice Hurdle, quickening away from some useful rivals to the tune of seven lengths. Honeysuckle (159) did what she had to do in winning her second Punchestown Champion Hurdle, but it was not a pretty performance, beating a 149-rated Echoes In Rain by just three lengths. Honeysuckle (159) was sent off at 8-11 to retain her Champion Hurdle crown a couple of hours later and she duly obliged. People were clamouring to take on Constitution Hill (152) in the Tolworth Novices' Hurdle. [State Man](https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/3094253/state-man/form/) (126) debuted several weeks later but was not quite as successful.

Defending Champion Hurdler Honeysuckle will not bid to retain her crown, instead running in the Mares Hurdle, a race she won in 2020; she has been beaten ...

He said: "One last hurrah for Honeysuckle! She was, though, taking on Willie Mullins' new kid on the block, State Man, who despite having only won the County Hurdle last March when Honeysuckle was claiming a second Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, had risen through the ranks and was sent off favourite. Defending Champion Hurdler Honeysuckle will not bid to retain her crown, instead running in the Mares' Hurdle, a race she won in 2020; she has been beaten twice this season, most recently in the Irish Champion Hurdle last weekend by State Man

Honeysuckle was defeated for only the second time in the Irish Champion Hurdle, when State Man got the better of the dual Champion Hurdler; she is now set ...

"State Man is just ultra-professional and his jumping is much improved," he said. "After the Hatton's Grace, I was all for staying at the Champion Hurdle route. Honeysuckle was defeated for only the second time in the Irish Champion Hurdle, when State Man got the better of the dual Champion Hurdler; she is now set to run in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham before retiring