Horse Racing Off The Fence: Mares’ Hurdle the right decision for Honeysuckle says Barry Geraghty

[Lupin]

Honeysuckle was defeated for only the second time in the Irish Champion Hurdle, when State Man got the better of the dual Champion Hurdler; she is now set to run in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham before retiring

Barry Geraghty thinks the Honeysuckle team are making the right call in sending the dual Champion Hurdle heroine to the Mares’ Hurdle instead of defending her title at the Cheltenham Festival.

The defending Champion Hurdler lost her unbeaten record when beaten on seasonal reappearance in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle earlier this season, before a second defeat last weekend in the Irish Champion Hurdle.

That defeat came behind Champion Hurdle contender State Man, and convinced connections that the longer trip of the Mares' Hurdle gives her the best chance of a Festival success ahead of retirement.