Honeysuckle to return for one last season in bid to join Champion Hurdle greats

History-making phenomenon Honeysuckle is set to stay in training for one final campaign next season – raising the possibility of a climactic conclusion to her career in the 2023 Champion Hurdle against Constitution Hill.

Rachael Blackmore's trusted ally would join an elite group if she were to win a third Champion Hurdle next March and is priced up at 7-2 to emulate Hatton's Grace, Sir Ken, Persian War, See You Then and Istabraq. Constitution Hill, runaway winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last week, is the general 2-1 favourite to end her reign.

Speaking at a homecoming event for Henry de Bromhead's Cheltenham Festival heroes at the trainer's Knockeen base on Monday, Peter Molony, racing manager to owner Kenny Alexander, said: "To get any horse to the races fit and well 15 times and never be beaten is a mind-blowing achievement. And with a mare it's that much more difficult. The whole thing is remarkable.

Honeysuckle: 7-2 to retain her Unibet Champion Hurdle crown next MarchCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"We've spoken about it in the last few days and I think the plan is for her to have one more season. Hopefully she'll get the chance to return to Cheltenham again for the Champion Hurdle."

De Bromhead said last week's Champion Hurdle triumph was probably the moment that provided more relief than any other in his racing career, with the victory kicking off a memorable week during which he saddled the 1-2 in the Gold Cup for a second consecutive year.

The trainer described Constitution Hill as "hugely impressive" in bolting up by 22 lengths in the festival curtain-raiser, but believes Honeysuckle still sets the standard in the two-mile hurdling division.

'Please respect our lady'

De Bromhead said: "Whatever about sheer ability, which she has, she is a freak in my opinion. But also in terms of soundness; she turns up every time we want her. There are a lot of things that make a great horse, and I'm amazed some people even question her ability.

"Talking about times, Honeysuckle is better off a faster pace. They probably went too slow for her in the Champion Hurdle. If they'd gone quicker it would have suited her even more."

He added: "I'm not in any way knocking Constitution Hill, he was hugely impressive, but please respect our lady. What she has achieved is incredible. If you want to use the term 'freak' with Constitution Hill, that's fine on what he did the other day – absolutely – but she's the freak."

Honeysuckle on her way to another Champion Hurdle triumphCredit: Mike Hewitt (Getty Images)

Plans for De Bromhead's Gold Cup galacticos have yet to be finalised but it seems likely A Plus Tard has run his final race this season, while Minella Indo could tackle the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup.

"It was incredible," De Bromhead said of the finish of the Gold Cup. "I couldn't believe it coming to the last. Seeing them upsides each other, it's just stuff you have to pinch yourself over."

Bob Olinger capitalised on Galopin Des Champs' dramatic final-fence exit to land the Turners Novices' Chase, and De Bromhead said: "He's booked in for a few checks that we have to run. Rachael just wasn't happy with him.

"I never thought I'd see a horse beat him like Galopin Des Champs was beating him before the last. Rachael said he made a noise that she'd never heard him make before after the fourth-last and he just emptied out on her. We need to dig a bit deeper and see."

He added: "I think I'd be stepping up in trip, but I wouldn't like to judge him at all on what he showed last week because I don't think that was him.

"Ideally, we'd hope he could end up being a three-miler in time. He's not an extravagant jumper, we never thought he was a two-mile jumper."

Blackmore showed outstanding coolness and confidence to bide her time at the business end of the Gold Cup on A Plus Tard as Minella Indo kicked clear approaching the second-last.

Reliving the moment, the rider explained: "I had said to myself before the race that it was where I wanted to be. I told myself that if [Minella Indo] has gone on, this was what I wanted. I didn't want to be beside him turning in.

"I was happy to let it play out and see how it unfolded. It happens quickly. Even if I wanted to go anywhere, I wouldn't have been able to.

"To have a turn of foot like that with a stayer is incredible. He showed similar in winning the novice handicap chase in 2019. This was at the end of a Gold Cup, though.

"Sometimes you can hear or feel a horse coming behind, or you can hear the commentator's voice changing, but at Cheltenham you can't hear that with the noise and atmosphere.

"I couldn't believe when I came back in and someone told me we'd won by 15 lengths. It was a phenomenal performance."

Read these next:

The truth is out now – Honeysuckle is one of the best we have ever seen

Constitution Hill v Honeysuckle: who would win in a showdown?

Constitution Hill smashes course record with 'remarkable' Supreme success

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday