Cheltenham (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Rachael Blackmore and the remarkable Irish mare Honeysuckle retained the Champion Hurdle crown with an impressive victory on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.
Blackmore cruised clear on the Henry de Bromhead-trained star to beat home 2020 champion Epatante and make it 15 wins from 15 hurdles races.
The duo have become an iconic partnership in Ireland, even having their images printed on a postage stamp.
They are used to making history -- Blackmore was the first female jockey to win it last year and this year Honeysuckle became the first mare to win the race twice.
Unlike last year, Blackmore and Honeysuckle returned to a rousing roar from a day-one record-breaking crowd of 68,567 spectators -- who were forbidden in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
"She's an incredible mare," said Blackmore, wearing a yellow and blue armband in support of Ukraine after the invasion by Russia.
"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."
'Rock and roll'
One of those staff, travelling head girl Zoe Smalley, was in tears.
"There was a lot of pressure I love her to pieces," she said."All day Saturday I did not know if I would get them here because all the boats were cancelled.She is incredible!"
De Bromhead said he is always expecting the unbeaten run to come to an end.
"She's incredible -- it is the never-ending fairytale.I always prepare for myself for it to end but it never does," he told ITV.
"If goodwill and all the good lucks could win you a race she'd have won by a furlong because I think most people here were willing her to win.
"The support we get for her is just mental.You have to pinch yourself with how lucky you are to train a horse like her."
For owner Kenny Alexander, it was a memorable day to have brought his wife to Cheltenham for the first time.
"If you don't get nervous today, what is the point in owning them?I always get nervous," he told the BBC.
"Today we were well revved up.It is rock and roll.
"I've got my wife here.First time at Cheltenham.Very, very special day.I am glad all the crowd (were) here as well."
Honeysuckle -- winning her 11th Grade One race -- also gave the Irish punters a boost after failing to land a win in the first three races on the card.
Nicky Henderson's 9-4 joint-favourite Constitution Hill romped to a brilliant 22-length victory over stablemate Jonbon in the Festival-opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Marie's Rock made it a double for Henderson in the Mares' Hurdle, edging out Queens Brook.
Favourite Edwardstone took the Arkle Trophy, while Brazil ran down Gaelic Warrior in a dramatic finish to the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, winning in a photo-finish.
"It's unbelievable, I'm so lucky to have a horse like him," said Brazil's trainer Padraig Roche.
"We thought he'd run well coming into today.He was improving with every run so we were hopeful but to go and win was just amazing."
