Honeysuckle crowned Horse of the Year for a second time at the HRI Awards

Honeysuckle may have lost her unbeaten record in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday but she was crowned Horse of the Year for the second year in a row at the Horse Racing Ireland awards held at the Mansion House in Dublin on Monday night.

The wondermare, who went four seasons and 16 races without losing, fought off stiff competition from fellow Cheltenham Festival winners A Plus Tard, Allaho and Energumene as well as Kyprios and State Of Rest from the Flat.

There was a special award for the 19-time champion jumps owner JP McManus, who was recognised for his contribution to the industry.

Among the endless list of triumphs in his green and gold hoops, Istabraq, who won three Champion Hurdles between 1998 and 2000, is the superstar who stands out for most. McManus has now owned in excess of 4,000 winners.

Kevin Manning, who called time on his 40-year career in the saddle last month, received the Irish Racing Hero award.

Kevin Manning: recently retired jockey received the Irish Racing Hero awardCredit: Edward Whitaker

Manning, who formed a hugely successful alliance with Jim Bolger, was champion apprentice in 1984 and 1987. His career would yield 36 Group 1 winners, including Epsom Derby success on New Approach in 2008. He also won the 2013 Irish Derby on Trading Leather and enjoyed multiple Classic success and a famous win in the 2004 Hong Kong Cup on Alexander Goldrun.

The National Hunt Award went to Henry de Bromhead who, with Honeysuckle and A Plus Tard, became the first trainer to complete back-to-back Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup doubles since Hatton's Grace and Cottage Rake won for Vincent O'Brien in 1949 and 1950.

Billy Lee had to settle for second in the Flat jockeys' championship but he won the Flat award after pushing Colin Keane all the way in a pulsating title battle.

The Hewick fairytale has been one of the stories of the year, so it was no surprise Shark Hanlon won the National Hunt Achievement award following the exploits of the T J McDonald-owned seven-year-old, who won bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, the Galway Plate and American Grand National in the space of six months.

Liz Lalor, winner of the Point-To-Point award, created history at Comea in February when she rode Read To Return to victory. It was the 110th winner of her career and broke Helen Bryce-Smith's long-standing record to become the winningmost female rider in point-to-point history. She is a nine-time ladies’ champion rider.

The hugely exciting Sam Ewing won the Emerging Talent award, while dual champion apprentice Dylan Browne McMonagle was the Flat Achievement Award winner.

The Letterkenny jockey hit the big time in 2022 with a breakthrough Group 1 success on the Joseph O'Brien-trained Al Riffa in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend.

There won't be many arguments about the Ride of the Year award, which went to Wayne Lordan for his last-gap success on Waterville in the Irish Cesarewitch.

JP McManus: winner of the Contribution to the Industry awardCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Nicky Hartery, HRI chairman, said: "We were delighted to be hosting our annual awards in person for the first time in three years.

"While congratulating all our winners, a special mention goes to JP McManus, who has given so much to the racing game and to Kevin Manning, who recently retired after a terrific 40-year career.

"Jack de Bromhead was among those who were remembered this evening. He is very much in our thoughts and I send my very best wishes to his sisters Mia and Georgia, to his parents Heather and Henry and to his extended family and friends."

The award winners

Contribution to the Industry JP McManus

Irish Racing Hero Kevin Manning

Horse of the Year Honeysuckle

Emerging Talent Sam Ewing

National Hunt Henry de Bromhead

National Hunt Achievement Shark Hanlon

Point-To-Point Liz Lalor

Flat Billy Lee

Flat Achievement Dylan Browne McMonagle

Ride of the Year Wayne Lordan

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