Boom for British breeders as Honeysuckle leads home Ronald Pump at Fairyhouse

Brilliant hurdling mare Honeysuckle not only retained her unbeaten record but also led home a 1-2 for British-bred runners in the Grade 1 Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

The daughter of the late Sulamani - also sire of Grand National hero Rule The World - was adding a second win in the race and fifth Grade 1 success to her eight previous successes.

Reflecting on the victory, Doug Procter told GBRI: “It’s unbelievable really. You like to think you can breed good horses but you’d barely dare to dream that you could breed a horse to do that.

“To win the same Grade 1 two years in a row and [to be] a five time [Grade 1 winner], you’re getting into pretty rarefied company.”

Trained by Henry de Bromhead, the six-year-old was a €110,000 purchase from Goffs Punchestown National Hunt Sale as a four-year-old, selling to Rathmore Stud from Shanrod Stables, and has repaid that price tag in full.

Honeysuckle: a €110,000 purchase from Goffs Punchestown National Hunt SaleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Procter added: “It was great that it was a British-bred one-two. It’s even more exciting that I have a mare that has got Ronald Pump in the family.

“We're always going to find it hard compared to Ireland and France because our National Hunt broodmare band is tiny by comparison. To get a one-two in a Grade 1 when you consider how comparatively few National Hunt horses we are breeding in this country is quite an achievement.”

The Kenny Alexander-owned mare is the fourth foal out of the late German-bred First Royal and the Glanvilles Stud, who initially produced her, have her half-sister Rock Royal who is carrying to Linda's Lad.

Glanvilles has also retained Honeysuckle's full-brother in Last Royal, who is in training with Keiran Burke.

Procter said: “He won his bumper on debut back in the summer and then went straight to a Novice Hurdle where he was second to a 130-rated horse but came back with a minor injury, but he is now back in work and is very highly thought of by the trainer.”

This article is in association with Great British Racing International.

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