Blackmore, De Bromhead and Honeysuckle sweep the boards at HRI awards

Rachael Blackmore, Henry de Bromhead and Honeysuckle completed yet another clean sweep at a major awards ceremony on Wednesday when dominating the 2021 Horse Racing Ireland Awards following an unforgettable season.

Honeysuckle was crowned horse of the year, her trainer De Bromhead won the National Hunt award while Blackmore had already been announced as the Irish Racing Hero after her triumphs at the Cheltenham Festival and in the Grand National.

De Bromhead said: "It’s been an incredible time for us and we’re delighted. It’s a great award to get."

Blackmore landed that breakthrough Grand National success aboard Minella Times, bred by John Nallen, who won the point-to-point award after a dream year that also saw his graduate Minella Indo win the Gold Cup for De Bromhead.

For her tireless work in ensuring that racing continued to run smoothly and safely during the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Jennifer Pugh, senior medical officer of the IHRB, was honoured with the contribution to the industry award.

The Flat award went to champion jockey Colin Keane while champion apprentice Dylan Browne McMonagle landed the emerging talent award.

Success at both the Dublin Racing Festival and Cheltenham Festival with Heaven Help Us played a major part in Paul Hennessy picking up the National Hunt achievement award, while Ado McGuinness landed the Flat equivalent for A Case Of You's Prix de l’Abbaye victory.

The prize for ride of the year went to Darragh O'Keeffe for his winning effort on A Plus Tard in the Savills Chase at last year’s Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

Suzanne Eade, HRI chief executive, said: “I'm delighted we can pay tribute to those who achieved so much and made such telling contributions to our wonderful industry in the past 12 months.

"Jennifer and Rachael have been two of our leading lights and their awards are so well deserved. As we saw at Fairyhouse only a few weeks ago, Honeysuckle is certainly the darling of the racing public and I congratulate her owner Kenny Alexander on her achievement in winning the horse of the year award.”

19th HRI Awards winners

Contribution to the Industry Dr Jennifer Pugh

Irish Racing Hero Rachael Blackmore

Horse of the Year Honeysuckle

Emerging Talent Dylan Browne McMonagle

National Hunt Henry de Bromhead

National Hunt Achievement Paul Hennessy

Point-to-Point John Nallen

Flat Colin Keane

Flat Achievement Ado McGuinness

Ride of the Year Darragh O'Keeffe

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