Honeysuckle 15 runs,15 wins
Honeysuckle is a mare racehorse trained by Henry de Bromhead, ridden by jockey Rachael Blackmore (last year’s leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival and winner of the Aintree Grand National) and owned by Kenny Alexander.
This week is Cheltenham Festival, one of the biggest weeks in jumps racing. On the first day of the festival Honeysuckle became the first mare to win two Champion Hurdle titles in 2021 and 2022. Her victory means that she remains unbeaten with 15 runs and 15 wins to her name.
After the race jockey Rachael Blackmore said “She always finds a way, she really does, I was kind of wider than I’d like everywhere, and maybe wasn’t as happy halfway round, but I just slotted in and we got our gap then. It was fantastic. I’m so happy Kenny Alexander is here as well. He’s a really good man and a class owner, and I’m really glad he was getting cheered on. Jockeys dream of getting on good horses, but she takes that to a whole new level. She’s special; she’s once in a lifetime. I’m so lucky to be riding her. You know what, part of me was thinking I should be more nervous here before the race, but I actually do have a lot of confidence in her. It would be weird if I didn’t, because she’s never let me down. She’s incredible. Henry gets her to the races every day in the form he does, and that’s an extremely tough feat – to train a horse, or a mare, to win all those races in succession. It’s unbelievable.”
Trainer Henry de Bromhead said “”It is pure relief, it really is, and ecstasy as well in the sense that I just really hoped she would get the welcome back that she got. I’m always preparing myself for the day she will get beaten, but I was really hoping that she would get that roar. If all the good will and good lucks that came my way could win you a race she would have won by a furlong! Most people here were willing her to win. The support we get with her is just mental! Rachael is brilliant. She had so much horse underneath her at the second-last, they are just a dream team. She was sublime and I can’t believe it. She is just amazing and we are so lucky to have her.”
Owner Kenny Alexander said: “I’m very relieved and Henry deserves enormous credit – he’s a lovely guy to have train my horse and Rachael absolutely smashed it.”
It was thrilling to watch – congratulations Honeysuckle and all her connections.