Those tuning in to the action from Fairyhouse this weekend will notice a regular name missing from the race card - Mark Walsh.
JP McManus' retained jockey misses a number of big rides at the Meath venue on Sunday, including Thedevilscoachman, Sire Du Berlais, Icare Allen and Hercule Du Seuil.
Walsh was stood down for six days following a fall at Thurles last Thursday.
READ MORE: Fairyhouse horse racing betting tips as Honeysuckle aims for record fourth Hatton's Grace win
Frank Berry, racing manager for McManus, told the Racing Post on Saturday: "Mark has been stood down for six days. He was down to have a number of rides for us today, and he's been replaced on those."
The star attraction at Fairyhouse on Sunday is Honeysuckle, who bids to win the Hatton's Grace for a record fourth time.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained eight-year-old is tied with Limestone Lad, Solerina and Apple’s Jade as a three-time Hatton’s Grace winner and on Sunday gets the chance to go out on her own under her regular partner Rachael Blackmore.
Peter Molony, racing manager to Honeysuckle’s owner Kenny Alexander, fully respects Constitution Hill’s obvious talent, but feels anyone who writes off the great mare does so at their peril.
“Constitution Hill was incredibly impressive last week, but to be honest it was no more than I expected – we all know he’s a very good horse,” he said.
“We’ve just got to do our own thing, head down and please God we get to March in one piece. If Constitution Hill is there, he’s there, and if he’s not, he’s not – I hope he is.
“We don’t know how good Honeysuckle is because she only ever does just enough to win her races and we don’t really know what’s under the bonnet.
“Constitution Hill could be a superstar, but Honeysuckle might still be good enough to beat him.
“She wears the crown, so let’s see what happens.”
Honeysuckle was brilliant in winning the Hatton’s Grace in 2019 and 2021, with a rather more laboured success over Ronald Pump sandwiched in between.
Molony added: “You never quite know what they’re going to be like first time out. It’s a new season, so fingers crossed the old ability is still there.
“Henry seems very happy with her. I think by his own admission he left her a bit short for this race a couple of years ago. It was basically the only time in her entire career when she blew up, but in true Honeysuckle fashion she managed to get the job done.
“She’s been a wonderful servant and doesn’t owe us anything. Just to get her home in one piece now is the number one objective.
“It would be huge to win a fourth Hatton’s Grace. It’s a huge race for our family as my father and my uncle rode Hatton’s Grace himself, so it’s a name we heard a lot at home growing up as children.
“It’s wonderful to win it once, but to win it three times is incredible. If she could pull off the fourth that would be out of this world.”
READ NEXT:
Pele 'moved to end-of-life care' as football icon stops responding to chemotherapy
Senegal manager a doubt for England clash after he misses training and press conference
Son Heung-min details the tears and hidden fire behind South Korea's World Cup surprise
Jockey slapped with 32-day ban after embarrassing mishap leaves punters fuming
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
