The amazing Honeysuckle should extend her unbeaten record and become the first four-time winner of Grade 1 Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle in Fairyhouse on Sunday.
The eight-year-old mare boasts hugely impressive stats – she’s unbeaten in sixteen racecourse starts (plus her only point-to-point), twelve of them at Grade 1 level and seven around today's venue.
Her illustrious CV includes three wins in the ‘Hatton’s Grace’, equalling the achievements of Limestone Lad, Solerina and Apple’s Jade, three Irish Champion Hurdles and, of course, back-to-back successes in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Henry de Bromhead has used the ‘Hatton’s Grace’ as the mare’s launching-pad for the last three seasons – she scored impressively twice and, in 2020, got home by just a half-length over Ronald Pump.
Last year, she slammed that rival by eight lengths, when her trainer admitted that she was fitter than twelve months earlier.
She progressed to slam Zanahiyr in the ‘Irish Champion’ at Leopardstown in February, powered up the Cheltenham hill clear of Epatante in the ‘Champion’ in March and, when last seen, outpointed one of today’s rivals Echoes In Rain in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle.
The mare, her regular partner Rachael Blackmore, Henry de Bromhead and owner Kenny Alexander look set for further Grade 1 glory here, just a week after Constution Hill’s impressive ‘Fighting Fifth’ victory as they progress to a mouth-watering ‘Champion’ clash next March, all going well.
But Honeysuckle’s task today won’t be easy as Willie Mullins unleashes his latest challenger to her untarnished record, classy stayer Klassical Dream, a five-time Grade 1 winner (from two to three miles), successful in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle last spring before chasing home Hermes Baie in the French Champion Hurdle.
Officially rated just 2lb. below Honeysuckle, Klassical Dream must concede the 7lb. mare’s allowance to the odds-on favourite here. And the mare will probably prevail and extend her remarkable, unbeaten record.
In-form ten-year-old Darver Star got within a half-length of the mare in 2020 Irish Champion Hurdle and come so into the race in a rich vein of form, but looks up against it in a field which also includes the Elliott pair Sire Du Berlais and Teahupoo. And, for an each-way play, Jessica Harrington’s Ashdale Bob might appeal.
Unbeaten in two starts over fences, including a Grade 2 defeat of Tommy’s Oscar at Cheltenham, Joseph O’Brien’s ‘Martin Pipe’ winner Banbridge looks a real natural as a chaser and is a hopeful choice for a tremendous renewal of the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase.
Willie Mullins runs four, with Paul Townend on board 156-rated Gaillard Du Mesnil, while Mighty Potter and Three Stripe Life, Grade 1 winners over hurdles, will carry Cullentra’s hopes.
And the Mullins-trained Champ Kiely should prove his star quality in the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle on Sunday's star-studded under-card at Fairyhouse.
A bumper-winner and unbeaten in two hurdle starts, this exciting six-year-old looked an above average summer novice when bolting-up on his hurdling bow at the Galway Festival.
And he built on that impression when taking a Grade 3 ‘novice’ at Tipperary in early October, making all to beat 142-rated subsequent Grade 3 winner Brazil emphatically.
Paul Townend’s mount clearly possesses a high cruising-speed and sets a good standard here in a field which will also include his stable-companions Hurcule De Seuil, a Grade 3 winner at Navan last time, and Naas scorer Ashroe Diamond, winner of a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree.
All eyes will be on Barry Connell’s highly-regarded and unbeaten Marine Nationale, winner of bumpers at Punchestown and Killarney and a smooth scorer on hurdle debut in Punchestown.
A runaway, ten-lengths winner on his Irish debut over course and distance, the Mullins-trained Zarak The Brave looks the one to beat in the Grade 3 Bar One Racing Price Boost Juvenile Hurdle, in which his stable-companion Lossiemouth, winner of his only start in France, should also be noted.
Although beaten at 1/3 on his racecourse debut at Down Royal (his conqueror Carnfunnock has won over hurdles since), Gordon Elliott’s Better Days Ahead is expected to bounce back in the Bar One Racing Pro-Am Flat Race, despite the presence of well-touted Mullins hope Chapeau De Soleil.
In the handicap action, Padraig Roche’s versatile Munster National fifth Walking On Glass, the mount of 7lb. claimer Aidan Kelly, might reward each-way support in the Bar One Racing Porterstown Handicap Chase.
READ NEXT:
Pele 'moved to end-of-life care' as football icon stops responding to chemotherapy
Senegal manager a doubt for England clash after he misses training and press conference
Son Heung-min details the tears and hidden fire behind South Korea's World Cup surprise
Jockey slapped with 32-day ban after embarrassing mishap leaves punters fuming
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
