HISTORY MAKERS
Blackmore claims Champion Hurdle glory on Honeysuckle
CHACUN POUR SOI can secure victory in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.05pm), the feature on the second day of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.
With Nicky Henderson’s 2019 winner Altior out through injury, Willie Mullins’ rising star can take the two-mile championship contest at Prestbury Park.
The Irish handler – the most successful trainer in Festival history – has surprisingly never won the Champion Chase. But Chacun Pour Soi can change that.
The French import has won six of his seven starts over fences since joining Mullins’ Closutton stable, including four Grade Ones in Ireland.
Although he is a nineyear-old he remains lightlyraced and his most recent successes suggest there is plenty more to come.
His win in the Dublin Chase, beating Fakir D’Oudairies by eight lengths, mark him out as the one to beat.
Another Mullins’ star, MONKFISH, can continue his progression with another victory in the Grade One Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (1.55pm). The sevenyear-old won the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at
last year’s Festival and has made a smooth transition to chasing. He has looked a potential future star in three wins, the last by 11-lengths in the Flogas Novice Chase was up there with the best performances by a novice chaser this season.
He looks a fluent jumper and travels well throughout. He can score again and put himself in the picture for a crack at next year’s Gold Cup.
Paul Nicholls’ BRAVEMANSGAME can come out on top in a high-class renewal of the opener on the second day, the Grade One Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Registered as The Baring Bingham) (1.20pm).
The six-year-old, who was an expensive purchase at the Cheltenham sales, ran out a smart 10-length winner of Grade One Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury on his most recent start. That form looks rock-solid with decent performers beaten.
There is surely plenty more to come from Bravemansgame and he can come out on top against similarly exciting hurdlers, the Henry De Bromhead-trained Bob Olinger and Mullins’ Galliard Du Mesnil.
Nicky Henderson has won the last two renewals of the Grade Three Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (2.30pm). He has four good chances this time with BIRCHDALE possibly the best.
Birchdale was ninth last year, not beaten too far. The seven-year-old remains still lightly raced and from 1lb lower handicap mark he can certainly go a few places better at least and maybe come out ahead of stablemate Monte Cristo.
EASYSLAND and Tiger Roll square up again in the Glenfarclas Chase (A Cross Country Chase) (3.40pm) and it may be the same outcome as 12 months ago.
French raider Easysland comfortably beat the dual Randox Grand National hero in this last year to deny Tiger Roll a fifth Cheltenham Festival victory.
The David Cottin-trained seven-year-old, who would carry top weight if he heads for the Aintree marathon, was only fourth over the cross country fences at Prestbury Park in the autumn. But he is well suited to this challenge and can resume winning ways.
Joseph O’Brien’s EMBITTERED can win the Grade Three Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (4.15pm).
Mullins has won the Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper (4.50pm) a record 10 times and any horse he runs in it is worth a second look.
He has five entries and although he doesn’t always triumph with his main hope, the County Carlow handler may land an 11th success with favourite KILCRUIT.
RACHEAL Blackmore flew up the hill on Honeysuckle to become the first female jockey to win the Unibet Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
The Irish jockey became the first woman rider to win the Grade One feature at Prestbury Park as Henry De Bromhead’s star mare justified 11-10 favouritism to land a historic and decisive success.
Blackmore had the seven-yearold, who is now unbeaten in 11 career starts Under Rules, just off the pace set by a trio of front-runners including Silver Streak and Aspire Tower, with Goshen running markedly right throughout.
But Blackmore and Honeysuckle quickly went past the leaders with ease after the second-last flight and powered clear for a six-and-a-halflength success.
Willie Mullins’ Sharjah (11-1) – runner-up for a second year in a row – had no answer to the winner’s burst of speed on the run for home and was just ahead of last year’s winner Epatante (4-1), who stayed on to be a further three lengths back.
Honeysuckle is generally a 3-1 favourite with some bookmakers to repeat the trick next year. But for now connections were savouring a historic success.
Blackmore, landing a fourth Cheltenham Festival victory, said: “I’m speechless, to be honest – she’s just so incredible.
“I can’t believe we’ve won a
Champion Hurdle. Kenny Alexander (owner) and Peter Molony (racing manager) are both at home with their families. It’s a pity they can’t be here today.
“When Goshen headed off and then came back in I was just slightly worried, but she did everything I wanted her to do throughout the race and it’s just unbelievable.
“Henry produces her every day in that kind of form for me to just steer round. I’m so thankful to be a part of her (Honeysuckle) – it’s all about her.
“She’s getting better and improving. It’s phenomenal.”
De Bromhead, who was also winning the Champion Hurdle for the first time, hailed Blackmore’s victory.
He said: “It was unbelievable. Honeysuckle is a very laid-back, chilled out mare, she’s amazing.
“I’m so used to mine being ridden handy away and after two or three hurdles happy.
“After jumping the second-last she had to get after her and Goshen going to the right for a while was a bit worrying as well.
“But all in all it was probably one of the more relaxed races I’ve watched here.
“Coming down to the last you just wanted her to get over it, obviously.
“Rachael is a brilliant rider on any horse and Honeysuckle is just a brilliant horse.
“The combination is deadly – it’s the perfect storm.
“I’ll discuss and see what everyone would like to do, but I’d say there’s every chance she’ll head to Punchestown.”
Rachael looked really