First to four? Honeysuckle's heroic path to potential Hatton's Grace history

Honeysuckle bids to surpass the likes of Limestone Lad, Solerina and Apple's Jade on Sunday in capturing a historic fourth Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

The unbeaten eight-year-old goes in search of a 17th win on the spin for what would be her eighth success at the County Meath venue.

While a Champion Hurdle date with her potentially most dangerous foe Constitution Hill looms in March, the focus for all at Knockeen remains the present.

Here, we take a look back at the star mare's Hatton's Grace successes and three races that exemplify exactly why she has entered the all-time great argument.

The first of Honeysuckle's three wins in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse came in 2019Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

2019: 'To go and do what she did was pretty incredible'

Won by nine lengths from Bacardys | Winning time: 5min 8.6s

Honeysuckle went into the 2019 Hatton's Grace Hurdle as 9-10 favourite, but the ratings suggested that this would be a test like no other.

Taking on five rivals who boasted 15 Grade 1 victories between them, this was the day people began to sit up and take serious notice of Henry de Bromhead's stable star.

Apple's Jade, like Honeysuckle will be this weekend, was bidding for a fourth successive crown, but ended up 13 lengths behind her rival.

Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore travelled and jumped to near perfection, flicking through the final flight with the race effectively sewn up before going away in devastating fashion and leaving some stellar rivals in their wake.

De Bromhead was at a loss for words when speaking afterwards. He said: "To go and do what she did was pretty incredible, I thought. I'm kind of blown away by how she went in the end."

2020: 'She has a great will to win'

Won by half a length from Ronald Pump | Winning time: 5min 24.6s

Returning with plenty of Grade 1 success under her belt and a burgeoning reputation following her Mares' Hurdle success at Cheltenham, Honeysuckle (4-11) made a bold bid to retain her crown on her seasonal reappearance.

This was a race in which she did what was expected of her by winning, but hearts were certainly in mouths as Ronald Pump continued to close on her heading to the line. That being said, Kenny Alexander's mare also never seriously looked like being beaten.

It was an admirable victory in that she showed grit and determination in a way that had never been asked of her before.

She was 16 seconds slower than her romp a year earlier, but the run would encourage connections to dream big and aim for the Champion Hurdle.

De Bromhead was delighted with the determination shown by Honeysuckle. "She has a great will to win," he said. "They were hard at it down to the last but she toughed it out well. She seems to be able to do anything, in fairness to her."

Honeysuckle made it three out of three in the Hatton's Grace in 2021Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

2021: 'To be associated with her is amazing'

Won by eight lengths from Ronald Pump | Winning time: 4mins 50.1s

Returning as a winning champion hurdler, bidding to match records held by Limestone Lad, Solerina and Apple's Jade, Honeysuckle (2-5) was set for history, but her trainer believed this would be the day the fairytale hit a bump in the road.

De Bromhead told reporters he had convinced himself all week that she would finally be beaten and at the 13th time of asking. With those fears in his mind and hoping to avoid the close shave of 2020, the trainer worked his horse harder than before, to incredible avail.

Ronald Pump, who almost played the pantomime villain last time, couldn't lay a finger on the mare as she cleared away with ease. In what was undoubtedly the most impressive of her three victories, Honeysuckle was half a minute quicker than 12 months earlier, travelling with ease and sealing matters early on with Blackmore never truly having to press the accelerator.

Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore return to a packed winner's enclosure in 2021Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The impressive victory, met with adulation from the crowd, cemented Honeysuckle's place in Irish racing folklore, while casting doubt over whether anyone in the division could come anywhere near her.

"She's an incredible mare and to be associated with her is incredible,” celebrated De Bromhead. "The reception she got here from everyone is unbelievable. I have to remember how good Rachael is and not worry as much."

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