Rachael relishing last taste of. . .Honey
RACHAEL Blackmore may not be part of the headline race with her treasured Honeysuckle today but she still feels they can end their Cheltenham story on a high.
The duo won the Mares’ Hurdle in 2020 before graduating to the Champion Hurdle which they have won for last two seasons.
In the process, Blackmore made history by becoming the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle.
Honeysuckle lost her unbeaten record on her 17th career start at Fairyhouse in December. And after she was beaten by State Man — a leading contender for today’s feature race — in last month’s Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown, retirement was considered.
But trainer Henry de Bromhead and owner Kenny Alexander have decided to give Honeysuckle a chance to go out on a high in this afternoon’s Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle before she is retired to stud.
Opposition is strong, headed by 2020 Champion Hurdle winner Epatante but Blackmore is confident her mount still has the ability and desire to make an impact.
Blackmore said: ‘I thought she ran an incredible race at Leopardstown. She still ran really well and she still feels really well. She feels like a racehorse and she feels brilliant. The reality of it was that she just wasn’t good enough to beat State Man.
‘If she didn’t feel fantastic we wouldn’t be bringing her over. It’s really exciting to be here with her again and it’s going to be a really fantastic race. It’s going to be so competitive.’
Blackmore was emotional when Honeysuckle was beaten at Leopardstown and she acknowledges that today’s race will also tug at the heart strings.
The jockey said: ‘I don’t think there will ever be a day that you ride Honeysuckle without pressure. She’s been an incredible mare for me in my career and hopefully the book hasn’t closed just yet and there’s another chapter to write.’