Rachael Blackmore and Honeysuckle demolish Cheltenham Festival rivals to win Champion Hurdle
RACHAEL BLACKMORE and Honeysuckle demolished their Cheltenham Festival rivals to win the Champion Hurdle.
The dream duo – robbed of walking back in front of adoring crowds when they won the race last year – trotted back to an absolute tsunami of noise on the first day of the Festival.
Blackmore and Honeysuckle recorded their 15th straight victory together, raising the roof at Prestbury Park as 70,000 punters returned for the first time in two years.
And once the final hurdle came into view it never looked in doubt as this most incredible of mares left them for dust yet again.
The 8-11 favourite drifted in the market before the off as punters tried in vain to find an angle against her.
But it proved futile, as delighted trainer Henry de Bromhead praised the two undoubted superstars of horse racing.
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Grand National winner Blackmore, 32, from Ireland, said: “It’s an amazing place walking back in here to this cheers is so special.
“Honeysuckle always finds a way. She’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse.
“I wasn’t as happy half way round but I slotted in behind and we got our gap, it was fantastic.”
De Bromhead said: “I’m blown away, just blown away. The pair of them are awesome.
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“I thought Epatante was going to do us, but not.
“You dreamed of Rachael and Honeysuckle getting a Cheltenham welcome and she’s going to get it.
“It’s unbelievable, everything went right for her.
“I saw Aidan Coleman lurking on Epatante but this is amazing. I just can’t believe it again!
“It’s a joy to train her, we’re blessed. We just feel extremely lucky, she’s incredible!”
Nicky Henderson’s Epatante came second at 16-1 while Gordon Elliott’s Zanahiyr was a brave third at 28-1.
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