Honeysuckle landed dwelling in Cheltenham as she raised her unbeaten tally to fifteen with one other operating efficiency on the Unibet Champion Hurdle in Cheltenham.
The mare who skilled at Henry de Broomhead behind closed doorways 12 months in the past gave the large crowd loads of encouragement as she climbed the hill to affix the elite hand of the double-winners within the arms of Rachel Blackmore.
Admire that, having run his first race since profitable the Senior Novices Hurdles Race on at the present time final yr, he ran with Not So Sleepy for the corporate till honeysuckle moved and jumped to the entrance on his second flyby.
The 8/11 favourite sailed dwelling and regardless of being challenged by 2020 winner Nicky Henderson (16/1), did fairly properly and went on to attain by three and a half lengths. Zanahir (28/1) was away in third place.
“It is ecstasy,” mentioned de Broomhead. “I hoped she would get the welcome she obtained and that is nice for her.
“Rachel is superb. It is only a dream.
“I put myself below stress and also you need me to compete in these locations, so doing it once more is unimaginable.”
Rachel Blackmore and Honeysuckle pose for the cameras after profitable the 2023 Hurdles at Cheltenham
De Broomhead admitted he felt extra stress this yr earlier than defending the Honeysuckle title.
He added, “She felt (a bit extra stress), with the followers and the group, so it was nice. The dream consequence was for her to win with the followers right here to cheer her up and Rachel – it is superb and nothing greater than they deserve.”
It is unimaginable. Strolling there in entrance of the grandstand with all of the folks, it is such a particular place,” mentioned Blackmore – who made historical past final yr when she grew to become the primary girl to journey the Al Mana champion title.
“I’m so lucky to journey the winners right here and on this mare. It is nice to have a Kenny [Alexander, Honeysuckle’s owner] Right here too, he misplaced it final yr.
“She’s unbelievable. She type of determined within the race when she’s completely satisfied to proceed, I have never stopped her from doing that but.
“She’s simply an unimaginable mare. The work that goes into her home is unimaginable too, Henry has a tremendous workforce of workers and so they deserve all of the credit score for that too.”
Cheltenham tour on day one: the British paved the way
Structure Hill wipes out the latter within the junior senior hurdle at Cheltenham Competition
Nikki Henderson and Nico de Boinville had been within the duo on the house workforce’s first good day, simply 12 months after defeating their Irish counterparts 23-5.
Structure Hill confirmed his promise as a future star with a powerful win on the opening of the competition, the junior excessive hurdle.
He drove Henderson dwelling by defeating teammate Junbon by 22 lengths after Dysart Dynamo had been knocked out of the competitors.
Mary’s Rock returns in triumph below Nico de Boinville
Mary’s Rock later proved to be a shock winner in hurdles Marys Henderson and De Boinville because the 18/1 shot battled arduous to beat Gordon Elliott’s well-backed Queen’s Brook.
This may have made the rating 4-1 for Britain, with Alan King Edwardston coming into the favorites within the Arkle Novices chase and awarding rider Tom Cannon the primary winner of the competition.
Tom Cannon salutes the cameras after his first Cheltenham win over Edwards at Arkell
On an amazing day for Scotland, Corach Rambler (10/1) took over the Ultima Handicap Chase for former Grand Nationwide title winner Lucinda Russell, coming from behind to plow by means of Jericault Rock and Oscar Elite and provides Derek Fox his first competition success.
The Irish responded later within the day, upsetting Brazil’s favourite Badrij Roch Gillick Warrior within the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, and Willie Mullins incomes a mark on the Nationwide Hunt Chase as Stattler got here dwelling as the straightforward winner at three miles. -The Six Furlong Marathon Take a look at.
Day two of the competition incorporates a replay of the extremely anticipated match between Shishkin and Energumene at Champion Chase and you may atone for each second on our devoted dwell weblog from 12:30pm at skysports.com/racing.
