Baroneracing.com Hatton’s Grace Hurdle (Grade 1)

AS she has been throughout a career that began at this racecourse just over three years ago, the brilliant Honeysuckle was queen of all she surveyed as she dominated the Winter Festival feature with a comeback that struck an ominous chord for any pretenders to her crown.

Now a perfect 13 wins from as many starts, Honeysuckle was running for the first time since April as she looked to make it eight Grade 1 wins in a row.

Twelve months ago she got home by just half a length in this race and her lack of a recent outing suggested that possibly she could be vulnerable.

However, Henry de Bromhead produced this all-time great mare in outstanding order as she limbered up for another potentially momentous season in great style.

Stormy Ireland cut out a strong pace in this two-and-a-half-mile affair but the Kenny Alexander-owned Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore had her in their sights from some way out and it was all looking good for the 2/5 favourite when she closed up after four out.

Beyond doubt

As the leaders turned for home Honeysuckle set about putting the result beyond doubt as she surged clear of the former Stayers’ Hurdle second Ronald Pump. Even before she reached the second last flight Honeysuckle had this in safe keeping and she was value for a good deal more than her winning margin of eight lengths over Ronald Pump, with the multiple Grade 1 winner Abacadabras a further four and a quarter lengths back in third.

“Both Honeysuckle and Rachael were amazing. When you are watching like that a race all sorts of things go through your mind but I just leave things to Rachael as she knows exactly what she’s doing. It was just the start of the season we were looking for and the reception she’s gotten today is amazing,” said a delighted Henry de Bromhead.

“She probably gave me a fright in this race last year so maybe we did a little bit more this year for it and we had her pretty straight today. She is an incredible mare and to be associated with her is amazing.

“Hopefully she’ll come out of this ok and then we will aim for the Irish Champion Hurdle in a couple of months. That’s worked for us before and we can now back off her for a few weeks and prepare her for that,” concluded the trainer whose charge joins Limestone Lad, Solerina and Apple’s Jade as the other three-time winners of this race.

Shadow cast

Sadly there was a long shadow cast over this race by the demise of Latest Exhibition who sustained a fatal injury turning for home.

His emergence as one of the top novice hurdlers in the 2019/20 season represented a great story as he was bred and initially owned by Jim Mernagh and he propelled Paul Nolan and Bryan Cooper back into the big time with his Dublin Racing Festival triumph.