More joy for Rachael Blackmore as Honeysuckle dominates at Punchestown
Rachael Blackmore celebrates winning the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle with Honeysuckle. Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Honeysuckle capped an amazing campaign when taking her unbeaten record to 12 in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.
Henry de Bromhead’s remarkable mare followed up her victory at Cheltenham with another convincing display in the hands of Rachael Blackmore.
Asked to go and win the race after jumping the second-last flight, Honeysuckle soon put daylight between herself and her rivals.
Her supporters had a slight scare coming to the last when the 4-7 favourite steadied going into it, giving Sharjah a chance to catch her.
However, she pulled away again on the run-in to score by two and a quarter lengths. Epatante was 10 lengths away in third in a repeat of the positions in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Honeysuckle was cut to 2-1 favourite from 11-4 to defend her Champion Hurdle crown at Cheltenham next spring with Paddy Power.
