Honeysuckle wins Champion Hurdle
RACHAEL Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the Unibet Champion Hurdle as she guided Honeysuckle to a brilliant victory at Cheltenham.
Blackmore produced the heavily-backed 11-10 favourite to lead between the final two flights and she bounded up the hill to go on and win in impressive fashion.
Silver Streak, Not So Sleepy and Goshen were the expected pacesetters early on, with Abacadabras falling at the third flight.
As the field went out into the country, it soon became apparent Jamie Moore was having steering problems on Goshen, whose chance soon went as a result.
Honeysuckle moved forward with ease, leaving the opposition in her wake as the Henry de Bromhead-trained mare powered away to take her 100 per cent record over hurdles to 11.
The pair crossed the line six and a half lengths clear of 2020 runner-up Sharjah, with last year’s winner Epatante another three lengths away in third place.
Blackmore 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. Her run the last day was a career-best and again today. It’s phenomenal.”
De Bromhead said: “It was unbelievable. She’s 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 hurdle Rachael looked really 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 it with Kenny and see what everyone would like to do, but I’d say there’s every chance she’ll head to Punchestown.”
DEFENDER Brandon Pursall has celebrated his 17th birthday today by signing his first professional contract for Plymouth Argyle.
Academy product Pursall has been regarded for some time as a very exciting prospect for the Pilgrims.
Clubs can offer professional contracts to apprentices when they reach the age of 17 and Argyle have wasted no time in securing Pursall’s future on what has been described as a ‘long-term’ deal.
The left-sided defender made his debut for Argyle as a substitute in the 3-2 EFL Trophy defeat against Norwich City Under-21s at Home Park early this season.
Pursall then went on to start the Pilgrims’ other two group games in the competition - the 2-0 defeat at Cheltenham Town and the 3-1 home victory over Newport County.
Since then he has been playing regularly for the under-18s in the EFL Youth Alliance.
Argyle manager Ryan Lowe said: “I’m extremely pleased for Brandon. From the day I met him it has been clear that he has a great attitude and desire to do well.
“He has shown that right the way through the ages in the academy.
“He has earned this contract as he’s a fantastic talent. To have already made his debut at 16 speaks volumes.
“He regularly trains with the first team and holds his own. He’s another excellent addition, and another academy product who will go on and represent Argyle.”
Pursall is a product of Argyle’s Cornwall Centre of Excellence and was part of their squad for the Northern Ireland Super Cup youth tournament in 2018 and 2019.
Pursall first trained with the first team squad in November 2019 while still a 15-year-old schoolboy after coming to the attention of Lowe.
Argyle director of football Neil Dewsnip said: “I’m delighted for Brandon, delighted for his family.
“It’s a really important milestone in his young player development pathway.
“It’s also really important to the club. It’s a great sign that our academy is working, it is producing players that Ryan and I believe are of the standard appropriate for Plymouth Argyle.
“I know he has already played in the first team but now the expectations change, and the challenge for Brandon will be to reach those levels on a regular basis.”
Meanwhile, Argyle striker and top scorer Luke Jephcott is expected to miss the Pilgrims’ League One clash at Blackpool on March 27 after being named in the Wales Under-21 squad for their clash with Republic of Ireland.
Jephcott has been a regular in the Under-21 squad this season, but there was some thought that he may get a call to the full international squad after his goalscoring exploits for the Pilgrims, which has seen him net 18 times already this season.
However, 21-year-old Jephcott has not scored in his last nine games and since he notched a brace in the 2-2 League One draw at Portsmouth on February 6.
Brentford’s 17-year-old defender Fin Stevens has joined the Wales Under-21 set-up after making three senior appearances in cup competitions. He was on the bench for the Bees in their Sky Bet Championship win at Blackburn last Friday.
Manager Paul Bodin has named 11 uncapped players in a new-look U21 squad for the friendly at Wrexham’s Colliers Park on March 26.
Among the squad are Niall Huggins, Sam Pearson and Rubin Colwill, who have recently made respective first-team debuts for Leeds, Bristol City and Cardiff.
The Republic friendly is a warmup game for Wales ahead of their 2023 European Championship qualifiers, which sees them play Holland, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Moldova and Gibraltar.
Jephcott scored the only goal of the game when the Pilgrims beat the Tangerines 1-0 at Home Park in their opening League One fixture of the 2020/21 campaign.