Kenny Alexander admitted “maybe the time has come” to retire Honeysuckle after the wonder mare’s second career defeat at Leopardstown on Sunday.
The nine-year-old followed a first career loss in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December with a four-and-three-quarter-length second to State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle.
And confirmation that the Henry de Bromhead-trained star, the winner of her first 16 races – including two Champion Hurdles at Cheltenham – has run her last race is expected on Monday.