Francome: races like the Mares' Hurdle have diluted Cheltenham Festival

John Francome has joined the calls for reigning champion Honeysuckle to take on rising star Constitution Hill in the Unibet Champion Hurdle in March but thinks the blame lies with racing's leaders, rather than connections, for creating the opportunities for the best to avoid each other.

The dual Champion Hurdle winner lost her unbeaten record in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse a week last Sunday, causing her trainer Henry de Bromhead to raise the possibility of Honeysuckle avoiding her much-anticipated match-up with Constitution Hill at the festival in favour of a tilt at the Grade 1 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle she won in 2020.

Seven-time champion jockey Francome, who won the Champion Hurdle aboard Sea Pigeon in 1981, thinks that would be a blow to the festival but says blame should rest with those in charge of the race programme rather than with owners and trainers for considering all options at their disposal.