Honeysuckle (8-11 favourite) successfully defended her crown in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at the racous Prestbury Park on the opening day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.
County Waterford handler Henry De Bromhead’s star mare was victorious in this Grade One contest last year, helping Rachael Blackmore become the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle. That started off a spectacular month for the Tipperary-born rider which culminated in her winning the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on Minella Times.
But with COVID-19 restrictions in place there were no spectators there to witness either Honeysuckle's first Champion Hurdle success or the Grand National.
But this time as the imperious eight-year-old mare stretched her unbeaten career record to 15 victories with her 11th Grade One triumph, Festival racegoers gave what trainer De Bromhead called "a dream team" a great reception on the run to the line and back into the winner's enclosure.
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Having already won a third victory in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse and a third successive triumph in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown this season, Honeysuckle showed she is head and shoulders above her rivals. Under another fine ride by Blackmore she scored by three-and-a-half lengths from fellow mare and 2020 Champion Hurdle hero Epatante (16-1) with Zanahiyr (28-1) a further length back in third.
It was Honeysuckle's third victory at the Festival and trainer De Bromhead 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 felt more pressure this year, adding: "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.
"They are a dream team and it is just amazing."
Blackmore won the leading jockey's trophy at last year's Cheltenham Festival and had six winners throughout the week. She was having her first success of this year's meeting
And she 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."
A proud Alexander added: "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."
Trainer Nicky Henderson said of runner-up Epatante: "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."
Nicky Henderson, who has won the opener with Constitution Hill, landed a Grade One double on the day when Marie's Rock (18-1) won the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Registered As The David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle).
It was Britain's fourth winner of the day and a welcome relief after last year's meeting when Ireland won 23 of the 28 races.
