Honeysuckle the highlight of a sweet treble for De Bromhead

Henry de Bromhead warmed up for the busy Christmas period by sending out a treble at Thurles, the highlight undoubtedly being the classy performance of Listed mares novice hurdle winner Honeysuckle.

There will be bigger tasks ahead for the filly, owned by GVC chief Kenneth Alexander, but there was real substance about her all-the-way victory under the red-hot Rachael Blackmore.

Afterwards, De Bromhead admitted he had designs of bringing the unbeaten four-year-old to the Cheltenham Festival next spring, but pointed to the Grade 2 mares’ novice hurdle at Fairyhouse as being a more likely and immediate target.