Honeysuckle the superstar in Fairyhouse

Fairyhouse, Sunday, 4 December: No less than three classic steeplechase races are on the programme on today`s second day of the Winter Festival at Fairyhouse. The absolute highlight is the Hatton`s Grace Hurdle (6th race/15.30/120.000 Euro/4023 m), in which Honeysuckle (Rachael Blackmore) makes her comeback.

The unbeaten exceptional mare has won 16 races so far, including twelve at Group 1 level and seven over this course. The eight-year-old has pinned the Hatton`s Grace Hurdle to her banner for the last three years and would top the all-time leaderboard if she were to triumph again, which would also be the case with her permanent rider. Whether Honeysuckle remains on the winning track depends primarily on Klassical Dream (Paul Townend), who finished second to L`Autonomie in the Grande Course de Haies d`Auteuil (Group 1) last time out. Echoes In Rain (P. Mullins) was third in the picture when Honeysuckle won the Irish Champion Hurdle (Group 1). Together with the reliably placing Ashdale Bob (Sean O`Keeffe) she closes the circle of horses with good chances.