A TRIBUTE TO HONEY SUCKLE

Rachael Blackmore, who rode the wondermare to four Cheltenham Festival wins, says thanks to a horse in a million

For me, gratitude from every angle is the overwhelming feeling when it comes to the story of Honeysuckle. An impressive winner of a point-to-point in Dromahane for Mark O’Hare, she was liked by Henry, Heather and Peter Molony at the Punchestown Goffs Sale and bought for Kenny. She arrived in Knockeen, July 2018. The wheels were set in motion.

Thank you.

She won her maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in November 2018 and I thought that she was very nice, but I didn’t for a second think that she could be the mare that she became. A 17-time winner. A dual Champion Hurdler.

Thank you.

People are amazing. The people have made it so special. We had wonderful days in Fairyhouse and Punchestown with everyone appreciating her. At Leopardstown for the Irish Champion Hurdle this year, the reception that she got there, people cheering when I was legged up, when we cantered past the stands on the way down to the start. That just doesn’t normally happen.

Thank you.