Big-race reaction: 'There should be no doubt over Honeysuckle's next target'

Honeysuckle has all the Champion credentials

There should be do doubt over Honeysuckle's next target after the unbeaten mare joined reigning champion Epatante at at the head of the Champion Hurdle market at a best-priced 5-2.

Day one of the Dublin Racing Festival was turning into the Willie Mullins show after the Irish champion trainer secured victory in each of the day’s first three Grade 1s, but the Henry de Bromhead-trained Honeysuckle spoiled the party by destroying her rivals to claim back-to-back victories in the Irish Champion Hurdle.

Connections of the seven-year-old mare, who is now a perfect ten from ten under rules, said before the race that this performance would determine her Cheltenham target and a ten-length thrashing of Abacadabras must make the decision an easy one.