I've finally seen the light - Honeysuckle is the real deal

To save me gushing about Energumene for a full 1,000 words, I thought this week it might be wise to delve into what we learned on a deeply informative weekend, so here are my reflections on the Dublin Racing Festival and the Cotswold Chase.

1. Champion Hurdle is Honeysuckle’s to lose

It’s taken me far too long, but I’ve finally seen the light. Honeysuckle is just as good as we thought she could be and proved it on Saturday with a scintillating performance to win her second Irish Champion Hurdle.

It was a career best by a considerable margin. Officially 8lb better on Racing Post Ratings than 12 months previously, she achieved the exact same figure Epatante produced in last year’s Champion Hurdle and silenced the doubters (myself among them) who questioned her ability to travel and jump as the best two-mile hurdlers need to do.

Honeysuckle: took her form to another level in Saturday's Irish Champion HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

Indeed, it was her jumping that impressed me the most. Big and clumsy at times last year – never more so than at the last in this very race – here it was fluid and slick.

I think part of that is down to experience, but also partly down to the way in which she races in total harmony with Rachael Blackmore. The pair have a wonderfully intuitive relationship which has spanned all ten starts under rules and Saturday’s ballsy mid-race move to challenge Petit Mouchoir and apply early pace pressure exemplified the confidence the rider has in her horse.

Epatante goes into the Cheltenham Festival with a big question to answer after she was beaten in the Christmas Hurdle, and we will not know if the treatment to her back has been fully successful until the day. In contrast, Honeysuckle has still yet to be beaten and is better than ever. She deserves to be Champion Hurdle favourite.

2. Native River can have a Gold Cup say

With Sunday’s Irish Gold Cup an underwhelming contest, it is becoming difficult to find horses who could put it up to Al Boum Photo in his Cheltenham Gold Cup hat-trick bid.

Champ could fill that position were he were to win impressively in the Denman Chase this weekend, but I’ve never been impressed with his jumping and at this stage he comes with plenty of risks attached.

Don’t underestimate the role Saturday’s Cotswold Chase winner Native River could have when it comes to this year’s race. He has a record of 314 in the race and remarkably his Sandown effort matched the one he showed when downing Might Bite in that colossal battle three years ago.

Native River: 11-year-old still among the best in the landCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

His absence was a huge loss to last year’s race, which was run at a muddling pace and produced (in my mind) an unsatisfactory finish, so expect a different scenario this year, particularly if the ground is testing.

Pace pressure could also be applied by Frodon (doubts about the trip haven’t been totally eliminated) and Kemboy (who tellingly also has the Stayers’ Hurdle as an option), but their presence could actually help motivate Native River in the same way Yala Enki did on Saturday. Don’t dismiss him too hastily.

3. Appreciate It? I’m still trying to

Appreciate It made it three wins from three starts over hurdles in the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle on Sunday, adding a second Grade 1 to his CV, but it wasn’t a victory which convinced me.

Connections have long earmarked him as a Ballymore horse and the fact he has slotted so seamlessly into this hole in their squad following the injury to Ferny Hollow to me suggests it isn’t a strong division.

Who can step up to test Appreciate It (right) in the Supreme?Credit: Patrick McCann

His jumping wasn’t as fluent as it can be on Sunday and he had no excuses when beaten by his speedier stablemate at the festival last year, so I think there are reasons to think he could be vulnerable in the Supreme.

The only trouble is he is the best horse the Irish are likely to run in the race and the British novices don’t look a spectacular bunch either, especially now my fancy Dusart is on the sidelines.

It is looking increasingly likely Zanahiyr, Quilixios and French Aseel will all stick to the Triumph, so I’ll be waiting for a new challenger to emerge. Perhaps the Betfair Hurdle or Kempton’s Dovecote meeting could hold the answer.

4. Monkfish worthy of the hype

I was blown away by Monkfish in the Flogas Novice Chase on Sunday and I believe he deserves to be held in the same esteem, if not higher, than Irish racing’s first chosen son Envoi Allen.

Dropping back to 2m5½f was a valid concern for a horse who scrambled home to win an Albert Bartlett and had tended to do his best work in the final stages of a race, but Monkfish showed another leap of improvement in an invigorating display which broke through the 170 barrier on RPRs (something Envoi Allen has yet to get within 5lb of achieving in any race).

Stand back and admire: mighty Monkfish was imperious in the Flogas Novice Chase on SundayCredit: Patrick McCann

There is a key difference in the novice chasing careers of Monkfish and Envoi Allen – the substance of their form.

On Sunday, Monkfish beat two Grade 1 winners from last year’s Dublin Racing Festival in Latest Exhibition (the most authoritative dismissal of his regular rival yet) and Asterion Forlonge, while dual Graded winner Andy Dufresne split the pair.

Who was a whopping 44 lengths behind? Fils D’Oudairies, the same horse who finished three and a half lengths behind an unextended Envoi Allen last time!

Please envisage me saying the above with a wry smile. Such a connection is of course fortified with frailties and foolish to make. In truth, we do not yet know how good Envoi Allen is, yet with Monkfish we are beginning to find out. I know which I find more endearing.

Saga could pen Stayers’ story

Paul’s Saga is a name you may not be familiar with but it is one worth remembering. The seven-year-old mare (yes, I know) is a Grade 1 winner in her native France and interestingly boasts a Stayers’ Hurdle entry next month.

She has also been entered in the Listed 2m5f hurdle (2.05) at Warwick on Saturday with Brian Hughes booked. Like last year’s Cross Country winner Easysland, Paul’s Saga is trained by David Cottin, so do not discount her turning up to take on Paisley Park, Thyme Hill et al.

Paul's Saga: a Stayers' Hurdle dark horseCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

Paul’s Saga enjoyed her finest moment when winning last year’s Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil over 3m1½f, defeating the prolific L’Autonomie. She beat the same horse when last seen, but just failed to run down regular rival Galop Marin in the Grade 1 Grand Prix d’Automne.

A half-sister to 2016 Arc fourth Siljan’s Saga, she has improved sufficiently this year to think she could figure in a race like the Stayers’ Hurdle and it would add an fantastic dimension to the race.

Read more from Maddy Playle:

Why Paul Nicholls looks to be set for an exceptional 2021-22 season

Wedge and Frost comments show where racing must progress

The veterans' series is a monumental success – and it is vital it stays as it is

No allowance needed: why a 25-1 shot should be added to your ante-post portfolio

Yorkhill transformation a feat which deserves joyous celebration

Arkle dark horse has what it takes to tackle red-hot Shishkin

If racing is to develop it's vital it listens to those who speak out on race

The Weekender is out every Wednesday and is available at all good stores. You can also download the edition from 9pm on Tuesday evening