According to my figures Honeysuckle (159) still ran to her very best time figure over two and a half miles on soft ground, when she was beaten last Sunday. She gets the same rating from me as she achieved when she beat Benie Des Dieux at Cheltenham in 2020.

On reflection, the data suggests the difference between Henry de Bromhead’s mare winning and losing last weekend was more about the opposition excelling in the conditions on the day and not Honeysuckle regressing.

As the Hatton’s Grace field entered the home straight it looked to be business as usual for the redoubtable Honeysuckle (159) as she assumed command at the second last hurdle. However Klassical Dream (161) and Teahupoo (161) were not reading the same script and claimed the mare at the last flight to bring her fabulous 16-race unbeaten run to an end.

The time figure achieved was well within the compass of the dual Champion Hurdle winner when race-fit. However she has recorded a mixed bag of times in her three previous victories before going on an upward trajectory as she progresses through the season.

Notably, her slowest time was when narrowly defeating Ronald Pump in 2020 (149), with the common denominator being soft ground, arguably verging on heavy.

Persistent

Sunday’s race was run on similar ground as the persistent rain through the card made a material difference to conditions, so she gains a pass for the defeat, the first of a glittering career to date.

In addition, judgement is reserved on her prospects of winning a third Champion Hurdle until she next runs with an engagement at Leopardstown likely to be the next step, either over Christmas or more likely at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Teahupoo signalled his liking for heavy ground when winning the Grade 3 Red Mills Trial at Gowran Park last season, when his final circuit time suggested he was a lively outsider for the Champion Hurdle. It was a challenge which never materialised due to the good ground at Cheltenham, although Gordon Elliott’s gelding has now proven his Grade 1 quality under his preferred conditions.

For his part, Klassical Dream has historically recorded his fastest time figures in recent seasons when making his seasonal debut.

The sectional breakdown of the race also endorses the performance of the first three home as the final circuit time was 1.3secs quicker than Merlin Giant (149+) achieved in the following race, run over two miles.

The difference between the races was the closing sectional as Teahupoo covered the ground from the third last hurdle in 61.5secs, compared to the 62.8secsonds taken by Merlin Giant.

Taking

The proximity of Emmett Mullins’ gelding to the Grade 1 feature on the sectionals lessened when viewing the overall race times when adjusted for distance, although it was a taking performance, nonetheless.

Supporters of the five-year-old would not have been anxious at any stage of the race as Donagh Meyler easily reeled in the long-time leader on the home turn before sauntering clear to win by an easy three lengths. The jump at the final hurdle was an illustration of the scope the Camelot gelding possesses.

Pinkerton (147) travelled into the race as easily as the winner, although was no match from the second last hurdle. A similar race looks within the capabilities of Noel Meade’s gelding who also ran well in a competitive handicap at Down Royal.

THE earlier races over hurdles on the Fairyhouse Sunday card were run prior to the rain so were analysed in isolation with the race times suggesting the Grade 1 Royal Bond to be the superior contest as it was 3.5secs quicker over the same distance. However, the final circuit and closing sectional times show the juvenile hurdle to also be a high-quality contest.

The gallop was strong from the outset in the Grade 1 event as habitual front runner Prairie Dancer took on Hercule De Seuil for the lead, breaking the race apart to such an extent there were only four with a chance entering the home straight.

Champ Kiely (157+) was the first of the four to strike for home, which may have been earlier than rider Paul Townend would have liked as, with his partner travelling so strongly, he found himself in front as early as the fourth last hurdle. A combination of the experience and better ground can see the Willie Mullins-trained gelding make his mark at this level in the future.

Travelled powerfully

The last to be delivered with a challenge was the winner Marine Nationale (161) who, like Champ Kiely, travelled powerfully through the race before finding reserves of stamina to shrug off a momentum stopping mistake at the last obstacle and nose out Irish Point (161) on the line.

The Royal Bond winner posted a closing sectional of 64.8secs from the third last hurdle which, when compared to the 59.0secs it took Lossiemouth (142+) in the juvenile hurdle, confirms stamina to have been at a premium in the novice contest. I would suggest Barry Connell and Gordon Elliott would have the option of stretching out in trip going forward with their respective runners.

The deciding factor in the juvenile contest was the jumping, as Paul Townend’s mount Zarak The Brave (138+), fluffed his lines at the last two hurdles to present Lossiemouth with an easier victory than looked likely.

The closing sectional superiority formed part of the four-year-old being 3.5secs quicker, or 18 lengths, through the final circuit.

As the closing sectional was so quick in the juvenile hurdle, I would keep Comfort Zone (136+) on my list of juvenile hurdlers to follow as he was short of racing room on the home turn before finishing off well for considerate handling.

MIGHTY Potter (161+) was imperious in the Drinmore Chase as he added a Grade 1 success over fences to his success at the same level over hurdles at the Punchestown Festival.

The hallmark of an above average novice chaser is how they jump on their second sortie over fences so, judged on Sunday’s display, Mighty Potter is destined for the top.

At first glance, the overall race time was slower than the mares recorded in the opening race, although when the worsening ground conditions are considered, I would rate the performance of Gordon Elliott’s novice much higher.

The son of Martaline displayed his aptitude for his new discipline as early as the first ditch as he utilised his sizeable scope with a leap to match his forename, as akin to plenty of the early obstacles Jack Kennedy was reigning his mount back from the lead.

In fact, his only blemishes at the fences were when he led, and his concentration was wavering.

A comparison of the closing sectionals with the mares show Mighty Potter to have finished off his race quicker, posting 76.9secs from the fourth last fence compared to the 77.9secs it took Malina Girl (153) to cover the same ground

The gap between the two races over the final circuit favoured Gavin Cromwell’s mare as she crossed the line 0.7secs ahead of the Grade 1 winner, enjoying an advantage from the better ground.

Gordon Elliott expressed a preference for the Turners Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, although between now and March, the Grade 1 novice chase over an extended two and a half miles at the Dublin Racing Festival would appear an ideal target.