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Defending Champion Hurdler Honeysuckle will not bid to retain her crown, instead running in the Mares' Hurdle, a race she won in 2020; she has been beaten twice this season, most recently in the Irish Champion Hurdle last weekend by State Man
Connections of Honeysuckle have announced the popular nine-year-old will have one final run in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next month.
Having lost her long unbeaten record first time out this season in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse behind Teahupoo and Klassical Dream, hopes were high she would return to winning ways at Leopardstown last weekend.
Trainer Henry de Bromhead and jockey Rachael Blackmore were making bullish noises in the lead up to the Irish Champion Hurdle, a race she had won three times previously.