05 February 2023 , 18:04
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Kenny Alexander admitted “maybe the time has come” to retire Honeysuckle after the wonder mare’s second career defeat at Leopardstown on Sunday.
The nine-year-old followed a first career loss in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December with a four-and-three-quarter-length second to State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle.
And confirmation that the Henry de Bromhead-trained star, the winner of her first 16 races – including two Champion Hurdles at Cheltenham – has run her last race is expected on Monday.
“Maybe the time has come,” said Honeysuckle’s owner Alexander. “It’s up to Henry – if he wants to chuck it in now, just get her out, safe and sound. She’s still very high class, but not as good as she was.
“She ran her heart out but age catches up with them all.”
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Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore after winning the 2022 Champion Hurdle (PA)If Honeysuckle does race on, a clash with Constitution Hill and State Man in the Champion Hurdle is off the agenda.
“We will definitely not be taking on Constitution Hill after that because she’s so brave I would fear for her and we are not fannying around for place money.”
"Young pretenders – certainly one of them – has overtaken her, and there is one in England.
“I’d dread for anything to happen to her now.”
State Man was cut to 3-1 for the Champion Hurdle in March after dethroning Honeysuckle.
He roared away under Paul Townend to win by four and three-quarter lengths.
“He’s improving all the time and he’s doing all the right things,” said Mullins, whose face-off with Champion Hurdle 2-7 hotpot Constitution Hill will light up the opening day of the National Hunt Festival on March 14.
“Honeysuckle ran a great race but he’s gone past her and we’ll have to see what awaits us across the way – Michael Buckley and Nicky Henderson have one there, I believe!.
Victory in three of Sunday’s four Grade One tests took Mullins’ top-level tally for the Dublin Racing Festival to six but there were also setbacks.
Blue Lord, the 1-4 favourite, could manage only second in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase – but Ireland’s champion trainer still saddled Gentleman De Mee to score under nephew Danny.
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The same jockey profited as 14-1 shot Il Etait Temps took the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle – stablemate Facile Vega bombed out at 4-9.