Honeysuckle’s Champion Hurdle victory quest began in Banbridge
HONEYSUCKLE, favourite for tomorrow’s Champion Hurdle feature, was produced initially by Banbridge trainer Gerry Cosgrave.
The unbeaten mare is now the winner of 10 races including twice claiming the Irish Champion Hurdle and looks a bargain buy now at £110,000 following a point to point win for Cosgrave.
Success in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown under jockey Rachael Blackmore, beating Abacadabras and Sharjah which re-oppose, saw the Henry De Bromhead runner promoted to favourite, deposing last year’s winner Epatante as market principal.
The top class mare has amassed nearly £500,000 in prize money for owner Kenny Alexander — the former boss of the Coral/ladbroke bookmakers organisation — who is assembling a powerful team of future broodmares. Honeysuckle is already a Grade 1 winner at the Festival having won the Mares Hurdle last year, but connections decided to target the big one this season.
Alexander said: “This is the real deal. I’m excited and also a little bit nervous, but more excited than anything else. I’m confident, I hope Henry and Rachael are too.”
De Bromhead has another product of the local point to point circuit in Ballyadam which won a Portrush point for Wilson Dennison’s Templepatrick nursery prior to being sold for £330,000 to major owners Cheveley Park Stud, but needs to reverse placings with Appreciate It — the latter considered by many a banker in the opening Supreme Novice Hurdle.
The Storyteller has proved a real flag bearer for Templepatrick-based owners Joe and Pat Sloan. He was bought for the owners by Glengormley based bloodstock agent Kevin Ross and has won 11 races and over £400,000 in prize money.
The Storyteller, named after the family’s granddaughter, has finished runner up in both recent Grade 1 starts while butting heads at the top level on a regular basis and opts for the Stayers Hurdle on Thursday, being already a Cheltenham Festival winner over fences in 2018.
Joe Sloan said: “He’s in great form and goes well fresh. He’s already proven himself at the course. He’ll really keep going up the finishing hill and he’s not ground dependant. I’m optimistic he’ll run well.”
Fred and Maureen Mackey from Dromara will be hoping for rain to provide an ease in the going at Prestbury Park having bred Native River which bids to repeat his 2018 victory in the Gold Cup on Friday.
Trained by Colin Tizzard, Native River has also twice been placed in the blue riband and was back at his best when winning at Sandown last month.
Regular partner and four times Champion jockey Richard Johnson said: “I wouldn’t swap him for another one. I’d be disappointed if Native River is not bang in with every chance.”
Native River has already won in excess of a £1m in prize money including the Welsh Grand National and is 14/1 to double up Cheltenham Gold Cup wins.