Epic run is over for Honeysuckle

An unbeaten run stretching an incredible 16 races was shattered at Fairyhouse yesterday when Honeysuckle suffered a shock defeat by Teahupoo in the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.

The dual Champion Hurdle winner, successful in her seven previous starts at Fairyhouse including in the last three renewals of yesterday’s Grade One race, looked set for another victory when she moved to the front for rider Rachael Blackmore jumping the second last. However, runner-up Klassical Dream and Teahupoo swamped Henry de Bromhead’s mare in a matter of strides moments later before fighting out a titanic tussle after the final hurdle which concluded with Gordon Elliott’s five-year-old prevailing by a neck under a strong Jack Kennedy drive. Honeysuckle’s owner Kenny Alexander told Racing TV: ‘They all get beat in the end and she’s been beaten. She ran her heart out. It doesn’t take anything away from what she’s achieved, she’s taken me to places and won races that I’d never have dreamed of.’

De Bromhead said: ‘It’s a horserace and she got beaten and that’s it. We’ve had some run with her for so long, she’s been incredible and fair play to the winner.’ Elliott had a fabulous four-timer which included further Grade One success in the Drinmore novice Chase courtesy of the impressive Mighty Potter.