Unibet Champion Hurdle report and replay: Honeysuckle goes 15 from 15 with win
Honeysuckle made it 15 from 15 under Rules when winning a second Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Rachael Blackmore was always travelling strongly aboard the 8/11 favourite and two out she brought her to the head of affairs.
At that stage the front-running Appreciate It began to beat a retreat and going to the last only eventual runner-up Epatante looked a potential danger.
However, she made a mistake there and in contrast Honeysuckle was soon in full flight again, drawing away to score by three-and-a-half lengths. Zanahiyr (28/1) was third.
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Honeysuckle received a rapturous reception following her victory, with De Bromhead delighted to see the public pay the mare her due respect.
He said: “It’s better than last year, obviously, with the crowd here, with Kenny (Alexander, owner) and (his wife) Caroline, with everybody. It’s amazing. It’s like a never-ending fairytale – just incredible.
“I just really hoped she could get that Cheltenham roar and it’s fantastic that she’s got it. She got it in the Mares’ (Hurdle in 2020), but for this as she missed out last year. It’s brilliant for everybody, our team, just everybody.
“Rachael was obviously sublime and I can’t believe it – as usual! She’s amazing and we’re so lucky to have her.”
De Bromhead admitted he had felt more pressure this year ahead of Honeysuckle’s title defence.
He added: “I did (feel the pressure a bit more), with the crowds and the build up, so it’s just amazing. The dream result was for her to win with the crowd here to cheer her and Rachael – it’s amazing and no more than they deserve.”
Blackmore – who made history last year when becoming the first woman to ride the winner of the Champion Hurdle – said: “It’s just incredible. Walking out there in front of the stand with all the people, it’s just such a special place.
“I’m so lucky to be riding winners here and on this mare. It’s class to have Kenny here as well, he missed it last year. She’s just incredible. She kind of decides in a race when she’s happy to go on, I haven’t stopped her from doing that yet.
“She’s just an incredible mare. The work that goes into her at home is unbelievable as well, Henry’s got a great team of staff and they deserve all the credit for this as well.”
Wonderful scenes at @CheltenhamRaces as Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore are welcomed back into the winners’ enclosure by the adoring crowd
— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) March 15, 2022
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A proud owner Kenny Alexander said: “That was such an amazing thrill, but I’m glad it’s all over! But if you don’t get nervous on days like today, what’s the point? I always get nervous even if they’re at Tramore or Carlisle.
“It feels special this year with the crowd back, and my wife has come for the first time. She’s a dream horse. Having the crowd cheering for her is better than having them against you, I can tell you that. She’s had a great reception in Ireland and now she’s had one here.”
Henderson was delighted with the performance of Epatante, who improved on last year’s third.
He said: “I thought Epatante ran a fantastic race. I thought we had her back after she went on a bit of a walkabout last season. She was quick and sharp and made a race of it. She’s a very good mare, they are the two best and it must have been a while since mares filled the first two in the Champion Hurdle.
“It’s special when these mares are this good, it feels like a real moment and we couldn’t be prouder of Epatante. If she hadn’t stumbled after the last we’d clearly have won! No, listen, she might have been a length closer but she’s now been first, second and third in a Champion Hurdle which is some record. Now what do we do? I entered her in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, but after that her mark will go up again.”
David Cleary Timeform verdict:
Honeysuckle rose to the occasion yet again, landing the Champion Hurdle for the second year running. In beating Epatante and Zanahiyr she was defeating known quantities that she had beaten before. Epatante looked much like her old self and might have got closer had a mistake at the last not deadened her momentum. Zanahiyr turned in a career best, sharp in cheekpieces first time.
For Honeysuckle, as straightforward as ever, the race unfolded perfectly, her turn of foot off of an ordinary gallop decisively played turning for home. In form terms, this win probably isn't quite so good as last year's and she wasn't value for much further on the day, though it's very hard to see any of those in this field troubling her another day. (Appreciate It, who ran out of puff approaching the last, performing as he looked, might be an exception).
There is, though, a very serious threat to Honeysuckle's reign approaching rapidly over the horizon. Constitution Hill produced a performance almost off the scale in winning the Supreme by 22 lengths from Jonbon with seemingly much more to give. Having looked a top prospect against the clock in a couple of testing-ground races at Sandown, he was breathtaking on good in what looked a hot Supreme beforehand.
The Supreme was run at a strong gallop, in contrast to the Champion, but the winner was still quicker than Honeysuckle from the third-last. Honeysuckle might face Constitution Hill as soon as Punchestown, and on their performances this afternoon, she might very well be the underdog in that clash.
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