Honeysuckle to bloom in Champion Hurdle

Honeysuckle can rise to the sternest of challenges as she bids to extend her unbeaten career record in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham tomorrow.

Henry de Brom head’ sm are has won all 10 of her rules starts since making her debut in November 2018 – and a point-topoint for good measure, the previous spring.

She was impressive as well as consistent on her rise through the ranks to the top level, until twice having to dig deep, in last year’s Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and then to retain her Hatton’s Grace crown at Fairy house this season.

On her return triumph in last month’s Irish Champion, though, she was imperious – prominent throughout and surging clear to hand out a 10-length beating to the best of the rest in her own country.

That performance was a revelation, even in the context of her own perfect record, and on that basis she must be the likeliest winner of a nonethelesshugely competitive renewal of the Cheltenham Festival’ s day one highlight.

It bolsters confidence too that Honeysuckle was victoriouson this card 12 months ago, over half a mile further, when she got the better of her duel with odds-on favourite Benie D es Dieuxint he Close Brothers Mar es’ Hurdle. Her rivals are, of course, of the highest standard too – including last year’s winner Epatante.

Unlike Honeysuckle, though, Nicky Henderson’s mare has to prove her wellbeing as well as her ability – because a physical frailty was reportedly discerned, and successfully treated, after her surprise defeat to the hugely likeable Silver Streak in Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle. Neither has been seen since, by design in both cases, and it will be fascinating to discover whether Evan Williams’ grey can master Epatante again.

De Bromhead’s apparent second string Aspire Tower, the back-to-form Goshen and last year’s runner-up Sharjah are others very much worthy of mention and consideration– but Honeysuckle has compiled a compelling CV which could well be about to reach even greater heights.

Elsewhere on the card, Willie Mullins’ Appreciate It must be the percentage call in the traditional Festival opener, the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. It was surprising to hear a lukewarm consensus reaction to the seven-year-old’s third successive hurdles victory, and second Grade One, at Leopards town last month.

Appreciate It did not show an electric change of gear there, yet he was still well on top. He is unlikely be the fastest Supreme winner on record but already has fine Festival form–albeit as a beaten favourite when second in last year’s

Champion Bumper – and in what does not look a vintage renewal, he may well prevail this time.