Honeysuckle All Systems Go For Irish Champion Hurdle Hat-trick

Leading mare in the sport Honeysuckle is said to be flying ahead of her hat-trick bid in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing festival at Leopardstown in February.

She has been a star for the yard over the last three or four years taking races like the Mares Hurdle and Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival and three Hatton's Grace Hurdles at Fairyhouse.

Overall the Kenneth Alexander-owned seven year old has claimed 14 wins in a row, if including her point to point race aswell and this season she picked up from where she left off.

She headed to Fairyhouse on her seasonal debut in defence of her Hatton's Grace title and looking to make it three wins on the bounce in the race and in effortless style she went on to win by eight lengths.

Trainer Henry De Bromhead is pleased of how she has come out of the race and all roads now lead to the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in February, where she will also look to land a hat-trick of wins.

All of these runs are in preparation for another crack at the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival in March and she is the current 4/5 favourite to land the spoils.

However, De Bromhead hit a flat patch over the Christmas period with only four winners from 74 runners which is slightly worrying.

However, Kenny Alexander-owned mare’s racing manager, Peter Molony said: “There is no cause for concern on that score.“Henry decided to ease off her a bit after her last run. Everything is under control and she is on course for the Irish Champion at Leopardstown in early February.”