She who dares wins - brilliant Blackmore keeps Honeysuckle on unbeaten run

This was what we wanted. This was the way it was supposed to pan out. This was two ferocious females leaving everything out on the course. This was gripping. This was glorious. This was yet another reminder of what a special talent Rachael Blackmore is. This was unquestionably the best episode of the Mares’ Hurdle since it joined the festival programme in 2008.

Precious little has gone according to plan in the lead-up to the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, so it was reassuring to see something go the way we had expected. Well, almost.

Benie Des Dieux was the banker for many on day one, sent off the 4-6 favourite, but she could not get Honeysuckle to cough up her unbeaten record no matter how hard she tried.

With a brilliant and daring ride, Blackmore somehow managed to sneak up the inside of the front-running Stormy Ireland on the home turn and she had a willing partner who has absolutely no idea how to get beaten. Honeysuckle –kept finding for pressure and made it eight wins from eight with half a length to spare.

The decision to swerve the Champion Hurdle and stick to her own gender turned out to be a shrewd one, despite all the groans when owner Kenny Alexander announced the news on Twitter last week.

This was Honeysuckle’s best trip and it will take something seriously special to dethrone her should she return next year, although there is a chasing carrot dangling in front of Henry de Bromhead right now.

Blackmore was brilliant on Honeysuckle but, as is her way, she deflected the praise to the horse and those working tirelessly behind the scenes, especially groom Colman Comerford.

The winning rider said: "This means so much. This mare is so special, and Colman does an unbelievable job with her. And Emma, who looks after at home as well. It's those people you need on your side looking after a mare like this. They've done an unbelievable job with her. Henry has produced her in tip-top shape every day she has run. I'm the lucky one who gets to steer her round.

"I was travelling well to the second-last and then became kind of forced in, but I knew I had plenty of toe at the back of the last. It's a big week and I'm delighted. You kind of realise early in the day that these winners are so hard to get, so I'm so lucky to be riding all these horses. It's every jockey's dream to be in the position I'm in, and Cheltenham is what it's all about."

It was a first festival success for Alexander, who said: "It's a dream. I've fired a few bullets but we've got it home today. It was a fantastic riding performance from Rachael and I've had the third [Elfile] as well, so happy days."

Honeysuckle was completing an opening-day double for De Bromhead after the Racing Post Arkle victory of Put The Kettle On and he admitted it was a tight call deciding which race to go for.

De Bromhead said: "It was very close, in fairness, and thankfully we came up with the right race between us. What a ride by Rachael – my God, the way she got up the inside coming around the last turn. It was two amazing ladies together.

"Paul [Townend, aboard Benie Des Dieux] opted to go the other way and I think Rachael had to sit and suffer, to be fair. Suddenly, the gap appeared, and she was gone. It's fantastic. She kind of threw herself at the last. Rachael wasn't sure and left it to Honey and she gave it a lash. She really toughed it out up the hill."

Honeysuckle certainly did tough it out up the hill, bravely bullying Benie Des Dieux when it mattered most. The runner-up traded at a low of 1-5 in running on the exchanges.

For the Benie Des Dieux camp it was a case of what might have been had Blackmore not been able to sneak up the inside on the home turn. But the favourite had every chance to win the race and she was just not good enough on the day.

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