'It's exciting and nerve-racking' - history awaits Honeysuckle in Irish Champion

Sunday: 3.00 Leopardstown
Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | 4yo+ | RTE2/ITV4/RTV

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History awaits for Honeysuckle, who bids to extend her unbeaten sequence to 14 under rules. No horse has ever won their first 14 races over hurdles, with Henry de Bromhead's brilliant mare currently tied for the record on 13 with Bula.

A third consecutive win in Sunday's €200,000 highlight would also see the eight-year-old join legendary hurdlers Istabraq and Hurricane Fly as the only horses to win the Irish Champion Hurdle on more than two occasions.

This year's task doesn't look any tougher than the last two runnings for Kenny Alexander's star, who is extremely versatile in terms of ground and is said to be more physically advanced this season.

By his own extremely high standards, De Bromhead has been a little quiet in recent months, operating at a domestic strike-rate of eight per cent in both December and January. Before then, only once since April 2018 had it fallen below nine per cent.

Considering the perceived lack of depth to the two-mile hurdling division, it's interesting to note three of Honeysuckle's four rivals have never faced her before.

Echoes In Rain, rated 143, and Heaven Help Us, rated 140, have 22lb and 25lb respectively to find with Rachael Blackmore's trusted ally, while five-year-old Zanahiyr must give Honeysuckle 7lb despite being rated 6lb inferior. Saint Roi, who was beaten five lengths by Sharjah in the Matheson Hurdle, is rated 10lb behind last season's brilliant Champion Hurdle winner.

Honeysuckle: untouchable in this race last year when winning by ten lengthsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Anything but another triumph for Honeysuckle, a top-priced 8-11 favourite to retain her Unibet Champion Hurdle crown next month, will be a surprise. Zanahiyr, who seems to be improving all the time, may give her most to think about.

'She's as grumpy as ever' – unbeaten star ready for hat-trick bid

Peter Molony, the man who sourced Honeysuckle on behalf of Kenny Alexander and continues to manage the owner's racing interests, believes the Dublin Racing Festival's poster girl is showing the right signs ahead of her historic bid.

"Henry is very happy with her," said Molony. "I called in to see her myself last week and she's as grumpy as ever, which she always is when she's fit and well."

There is some poignancy in the fact Molony's late father Martin bought Bula on behalf of his wife's first cousin Judy Edwards-Heathcote, who last week told him how she wished to see Honeysuckle break the record she shares with the two-time Champion Hurdle winner.

Honeysuckle: received a terrific reception when winning the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in NovemberCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Several of Honeysuckle's biggest successes since the pandemic came behind closed doors, and Molony added: "It's great that racegoers can now get an opportunity to see her race.

"We're very aware of her fan club – she was with us on her holidays last summer [at Rathmore Stud] and we were inundated with people who wanted to come and see her, so that was a big enough indication. The reception she got at Fairyhouse was incredible. It's exciting and nerve-racking but we're really looking forward to seeing her defend her crown in front of a packed crowd."

What they say

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Zanahiyr
He's in good form and improving the whole time, but what can you say about Honeysuckle? She's a superstar and probably in the same league – if not even ahead – of the likes of Dawn Run and those great mares at this stage. She's going to be hard to beat. We'll give it a go, but if the real Honeysuckle turns up then she'll take all the beating.

Frank Berry, racing manager to JP McManus, owner of Saint Roi
If you're not in you can't win and Willie [Mullins] is very happy with him. If Honeysuckle is on song she should win and hopefully we'll be able to collect some of the placed money. She's a brilliant mare and her record speaks for itself.

Paul Townend, rider of Echoes In Rain
She has a lot to find on form. She wears a tongue-tie for the first time which will be interesting. This race revolves around the unbeaten Honeysuckle. Nobody knows where the end of her talent is. We'll give it a shot but we'll be up against it. We would definitely need a career best to come home in front.

Danny Mullins, rider of Heaven Help Us
I was very pleased with her run at Leopardstown over Christmas. The two and a half miles she faced then would look to be her optimum trip. I'd love to be getting by Honeysuckle but we might struggle to do that. If she can sharpen up here, it will tee her up nicely for a crack at the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Read a selection of Sunday previews . . .

1.20 Leopardstown: just how good is Galopin Des Champs? Potential superstar set for tough test

1.50 Leopardstown: Paul Townend puts faith in 'electric' Chacun Pour Soi to shine in Dublin Chase

Big-race analysis: why the dominant Chacun Pour Soi will be hard to beat on home soil (Members' Club)

2.40 Musselburgh: 'He has a live chance' – which trainer is looking forward to the better ground?

3.35 Leopardstown: Sir Gerhard in pole position Mullins' strong Supreme hand

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