Mixed emotions as Honeysuckle remains unbeaten with Hatton's Grace annihilation

It was a Hatton's Grace of shattering contrasts. Basking in the cool November air, Henry de Bromhead, whose rampant Honeysuckle had just thrashed another competitive field, questioned just how lucky one man can be to have a horse as good as the unbeaten Champion Hurdle winner.

At the same time, Paul Nolan was left heartbroken after Grade 1-winning hurdler Latest Exhibition suffered a fatal injury entering the home straight.

Honeysuckle, one of the most durable performers in recent years, had just sent Fairyhouse into a tizzy, sparking scenes that are scarcely seen even on Irish National Day.

Watch Honeysuckle's win in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle

But merely metres from the winner's enclosure, the sight of the Nolan camp consoling each other was a sad one, and drilled home just how important it is to savour horses like Honeysuckle and Latest Exhibition when they are in full flow.

Not that there is any danger of racing fans not appreciating Honeysuckle. Punters packed five or six deep to welcome the unbeaten mare and Rachael Blackmore back into the winner’s enclosure with racecourse announcer Robbie Irwin even summoning three cheers from the crowd.

Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore return to a packed winner's enclosure in 2021Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The roars were replaced with polite applause as Honeysuckle departed the parade ring, leaving her trainer to try to put the performance into words.

“Rachael was brilliant on her and they're just a lethal combination,” De Bromhead said. “In fairness, Honeysuckle was really psyched before the race.”

He added: “She gave me a little fright in this race last year, so we did a little bit more with her this year fitness-wise. When you have only so many runs in a season, they need to be pretty straight for them.

“She's an incredible mare and to be associated with her is amazing. The reception she got from everyone here is unbelievable.”

Honeysuckle's record now reads 13 from 13. She has also won a point-to-point. Of her 13 wins on the track, nine have come at the highest level, including in the Champion Hurdle.

BoyleSports don't want any business when it comes to Honeysuckle recording back-to-back successes in the Champion Hurdle with the firm quoting the shortest odds at just 4-7, although there is evens out there.

Henry de Bromhead (left) congratulates Honeysuckle's owner Kenny AlexanderCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

De Bromhead, who revealed he had convinced himself that this would be the day when Honeysuckle would taste defeat for the first time, pointed to a tried and trusted path back towards Cheltenham for the darling of Irish racing.

He said: “I'm at the stage now where I just tell myself she's going to get beaten every time she runs. Of course I get nervous but, on the other hand, we're so lucky to have her. But I had convinced myself that she was going to get beaten all week.”

He added: “Touch wood she'll be okay in the morning and we'll go to the Irish Champion Hurdle. That has worked for us before. We can back off her now for a few weeks and prep her for that race.”

The race itself was no dawdle and it was clear from the outset that Honeysuckle was not going to be handed anything easy as Stormy Ireland set off at a good clip.

Alive to the fact Stormy Ireland is not a mare you want to allow too much rope, Blackmore sat relatively handy, but when that rival cried enough, she was left in front a long way from home.

Describing his emotions watching the race, De Bromhead said: “They were racing from a long way out and Stormy Ireland went a right gallop. We know what she did at Punchestown, so you wouldn't want her getting away from the field.”

He added: “Rachael was wise to that. But then Stormy Ireland stopped quite quickly and I was wondering if we had gone too fast. I was looking for the dangers in behind us. But in fairness, the thing I have to do is remember how good Rachael is and not worry as much. I need to try to do that.”

Read more from Fairyhouse:

Which horse could give Honeysuckle most to think about in the Champion Hurdle?

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