'They have her to beat' - De Bromhead relishing Honeysuckle taking on new kids on the block
Honeysuckle suffered the first defeat of her stellar career on her reappearance but Henry de Bromhead is relishing the prospect of Sunday's showdown with new kids on the block State Man and Vauban in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle.
The exceptional mare would emulate Istabraq should she secure a fourth successive victory under Rachael Blackmore in the €200,000 feature on day two of Leopardstown's Dublin Racing Festival. Following her third behind Teahupoo and Klassical Dream in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, she will be going into a race with something other than a win beside her name for the first time, but De Bromhead says preparations have gone to plan for the Kenny Alexander-owned nine-year-old.
"She seems in great form and we're happy with her and all things are good," the County Waterford trainer said on Wednesday. "It was a very good first run of the season at Fairyhouse and we've been really happy with her since."
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inDublin Racing Festival
Last updated
- Fancy a trip to the Dublin Racing Festival? Be sure to book in advance as Leopardstown scraps ticket sales on the gate
- Leopardstown delighted with 'very significant increase' in British racegoers at packed-out Dublin Racing Festival
- 'It's been absolutely extraordinary - it's certainly way more winners than I thought we would achieve'
- Who has been your big Dublin Racing Festival eyecatcher?
- Irish Champion Hurdle: 'You can't get much better than this' - State Man completes remarkable Grade 1 clean sweep for Willie Mullins
- Fancy a trip to the Dublin Racing Festival? Be sure to book in advance as Leopardstown scraps ticket sales on the gate
- Leopardstown delighted with 'very significant increase' in British racegoers at packed-out Dublin Racing Festival
- 'It's been absolutely extraordinary - it's certainly way more winners than I thought we would achieve'
- Who has been your big Dublin Racing Festival eyecatcher?
- Irish Champion Hurdle: 'You can't get much better than this' - State Man completes remarkable Grade 1 clean sweep for Willie Mullins