News emerged on Tuesday morning that Honeysuckle will be aimed at the Mares' Hurdle at this year's Cheltenham Festival in what will be the super mare's last ever run.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained nine-year-old finished second to State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday, prompting connections to opt for the Mares instead of letting her defend her crown in the Champion Hurdle, a race she has won for the last two years.
Confirming the decision, owner Kenny Alexander's racing manager Peter Molony tweeted: "One last hurrah for Honeysuckle! Barring accidents, injury, illness or extremes of ground she will be prepared for another tilt at The Close Brothers Mares Hurdle Gd1 @CheltenhamRaces on Tuesday 14th of March."
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The decision was met with mixed responses from racing fans, with some thinking it is the right call, while others believe she should run in the Champion Hurdle, including Matt Chapman.
The ITV and Sky Sports Racing broadcaster tweeted shortly after the news broke: "@CheltenhamRaces to introduce a new race next month. The Gd1 Consolation Champion Hurdle will be run for £1 and be restricted to any previous winner of the great race that doesn’t want to run in the main event if they don’t start fav. Let the people cheer them home."
Chapman's tweet attracted a large number of responses from people who thought he was wrong.
One person wrote: "Matt, Honeysuckle isn't going to win the champion, Henry and the owner are doing what is best by her, they can see just like everyone else can, that she's running 5-7lbs below her best, so why run in a race she can't win, the Mare's is her best chance of winning at Cheltenham."
Responding to that tweet, Chapman said: "I mean they have no idea and neither do we. All just guessing."
Another racing fan who disagreed with Chapman's view commented: "I disagree Matt. No horse is going to beat Constitution Hill. I’m actually pleased Honeysuckle is going in the mares hurdle. What a race that is turning out to be! Imagine if Epatante, Maries Rock, Love Envoi, Brandy Love, Echoes In Rain all turn up! What a race that would be."
But the presenter refused to back down and responded: "People said that about Blue Lord and Facile Vega last wknd."
Having lost her long unbeaten record first time out this season in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse behind Teahupoo and Klassical Dream, hopes were high Honeysuckle would return to winning ways at Leopardstown last weekend for De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore.
However, she could only finish second behind the Willie Mullins-trained State Man, who won the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last March while Honeysuckle was winning the second of her two Champion Hurdles.
While talk of her retirement circulated, owner Kenny Alexander did not make any rash decisions and took in all the available information from those closest to the mare before deciding she deserved one more run – and a potential clash with two of Nicky Henderson’s stars in Marie’s Rock and Epatante.
Explaining the decision to PA Media, Molony said: “I think after Sunday, on mature reflection, most reasonable people would agree she has taken a step back.
“She still fought her heart out and when Vauban came to take second off her she put her head down and her ears back and went ‘not on your life’.
“So she still has that competitive spirit, she’s still a racehorse and that’s why we’ve decided to give her one last hurrah. She deserves it and Cheltenham would be a lovely place to bow out.”
Honeysuckle was cheered to post prior to the Irish Champion Hurdle, with home supporters and those visiting from the UK keen to see the popular nine-year-old triumph round Leopardstown one last time, and Molony admits it was a special but humbling experience for those associated with the 12-time Grade One winner.
“The whole day on Sunday, strangely enough, even though we got beat, was one of the best days we’ve had on a racecourse with Honey,” continued Molony.
“The reception she got, the cheer when Rachael got legged up, the roars as she cantered down to the start – Rachael said when she got down to the start she had a stupid grin on her face from the huge reception they got.
“Then the reception when she came back – it was humbling and phenomenal. It was a wonderful day apart from the fact we got beat.”
Victory in the Mares’ Hurdle would give Honeysuckle a fourth success at the Festival and Molony believes her place amongst the greats is already secured ahead of one last outing at Prestbury Park.
He added: “The public have really taken her to their hearts and it’s wonderful, so Cheltenham is probably the right place for her to finish her career.
“I think she is amongst an elite band of horses already, she’s been phenomenal and number one thing is let’s get her back safe and sound and hopefully we will have a great day.”
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