Paddy Power Champion Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 17:25 €250,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1  |
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| Friday 30th April 2021 | |
1 Honeysuckle 4/7F
2 Sharjah 9/1
3 Epatante 9/2
8 ran Distances: 2¼l, 10l, 1½l
Time: 3m 53.10s (slow by 9.10s)
Oh she’s so good #Honeysuckle pic.twitter.com/ZA011zHuE7
— Fergal O’Brien Racing (@FOBRacing) April 30, 2021
Asked to go and win the race after jumping the second-last flight, Honeysuckle soon put daylight between herself and her rivals.
Her supporters had a slight scare coming to the last when the 4-7 favourite steadied going into it, giving Sharjah a chance to catch her.
However, she pulled away again on the run-in to score by two and a quarter lengths. Epatante was 10 lengths away in third in a repeat of the positions in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
“It’s 100 per cent relief – I nearly threw it away at the last,” said jockey Rachael Blackmore.
“She was feeling the season a little bit I think, but she’s just phenomenal.
“I wasn’t as comfortable throughout the race on her today, but still she just delivers.
“Real stars get jockeys out of trouble. I did sleep last night – sleeping is never a bother.”
Blackmore and Henry De Bromhead have endured a disappointing week by their own high standards, with Honeysuckle a first success at this year’s Festival.
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo had to miss his intended run on Wednesday due to a minor issue while star novice hurdler Bob Olinger was ruled out of his Punchestown engagement at a late stage due to coughing.
De Bromhead said: “We weren’t having an amazing week, but she always gets us out of trouble. She’s amazing. I’m just delighted for Kenny (Alexander, owner), Peter (Molony) and everyone involved.
“She was brilliant and Rachael was brilliant on her.
“She’s like a lot of those really good horses, she has such a will to win and Rachael is so good on her.
“She’s done that before at the last, but thankfully Rachael had it all under control. It’s been an amazing season and that’s a great way to finish it off.”
Molony, who is Alexander’s racing manager, admitted there is a “temptation” to switch to chasing with Honeysuckle, who was a point to point winner before embarking on her career under rules.
He said: “We have to sit down and have a chat about it (plans for next season).
“The safe option would be to go back over hurdles and it’d be wonderful if we could win another Champion Hurdle in Cheltenham and another Irish Champion Hurdle – that would be wonderful.
“There is a temptation there (to go over fences). She’s a wonderful jumper – she looks like a chasing mare. The temptation is there – how exciting would it be, but we’ll have a chat.
“I know she does (jump fences), I’ve seen her do it (schooling on Sunday mornings). We’ll see.”
Paddy Power Punchestown Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
€250,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Yielding
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Honeysuckle 7 11-7 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 4/7F
2 2¼ Sharjah 8 12-0 W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins 9/1
3 10 Epatante 7 11-7 Nicky Henderson Mark Walsh 9/2
4 1½ Abacadabras 7 12-0 Mrs Denise Foster Jack Kennedy 14/1
5 2¾ Goshen 5 12-0 Gary Moore Jamie Moore 8/1
6 15 Darver Star 9 12-0 Gavin Cromwell Jonathan Moore 100/1
7 ½ Jason The Militant 7 12-0 Henry De Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe 33/1
8 19 Aspire Tower 5 12-0 Henry De Bromhead Robbie Power 33/1
PAST RESULTS
Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2020 Abandoned - Covid-19
2019 Buveur D'Air 8-11-12 John P McManus Nicky Henderson Davy Russell 2/1J
2018 Supasundae 8-11-12 Wicklow B’stock (Ire) Ltd Mrs J Harrington RM Power 12/1
2017 Wicklow Brave 8-11-12 Wicklow B’stock (Ire) Ltd Willie Mullins Mr Patrick Mullins 12/1
2016 Vroum Vroum Mag 7-11-5 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 4/6 Fav
2015 Faugheen 7-11-12 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 1/6 Fav
2014 Jezki 6-11-12 J P McManus Jessica Harrington A P McCoy 4/5 Fav
2013 Hurricane Fly 9-11-12 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 1/4 Fav
2012 Hurricane Fly 8-11-12 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 4/11 Fav
2011 Hurricane Fly 7-11-12 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 1/2 Fav
2010 Hurricane Fly 6-11-12 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins Paul Townend 3/1
2009 Solwhit 5-11-12 Top Of The Hill Syndicate Charles Byrnes Davy Russell 2/1 Jt Fav
2008 Punjabi 5-11-12 Raymond Tooth Nicky Henderson GB Barry Geraghty 2/1
2007 Silent Oscar 8-11-12 Patrick Convery Harry Rogers Robbie Power 20/1
2006 Macs Joy 7-11-12 Mac’s J Racing Jessica Harrington Barry Geraghty 11/4
2005 Brave Inca 7-11-12 Novices Syndicate Colm Murphy A P McCoy 2/1
2004 Hardy Eustace 7-11-12 Lar Byrne Dessie Hughes Conor O’Dwyer 3/1
2003 Quazar 5-11-13 David Carr Jonjo O’Neill GB Tony Dobbin 7/2
2002 Davenport Milenium 6-11-12 Mrs Noel O’Callaghan Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 11/2
*2001 Moscow Flyer 7-12-00 Brian Kearney Jessica Harrington Barry Geraghty 6/1
2000 Grimes 7-11-09 J P McManus Christy Roche Charlie Swan 6/1
1999 Istabraq 7-12-00 J P McManus Aidan O’Brien Charlie Swan 1/4 Fav
1998-96 No race
1995 Fortune And Fame 8-11-08 Michael Smurfit Dermot Weld Richard Dunwoody 4/7 Fav
1994 Fortune And Fame 7-11-08 Michael Smurfit Dermot Weld Brendan Sheridan 4/9 Fav
1993 Camden Buzz 5-11-05 Carmel Byrne Paddy Mullins Charlie Swan Evs Fav
* Run at Leopardstown
