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22 Oct 2025
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22 Oct 2025
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Rachael Blackmore celebrates on Honeysuckle after winning the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Picture: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Tipperary jockey Rachael Blackmore steered Honeysuckle to the perfect farewell to the horse's illustrious career when winning the Mares' hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival this afternoon.
The nine-year-old won the Mares' hurdle for the second time, her first success coming in 2020, before she and Rachael Blackmore went on to win two Champion Hurdles in 2021 and 2022.
In her final race, Honeysuckle was the 9/4 joint favourite and got the better of second-placed Love Envoi and Queens Brook, who finished third.
It was an occasion laden with emotion, not least for Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead, whose 13-year-old son Jack was killed in an accident last year.
Minutes after the racing, Rachael Blackmore told ITV Racing "We all wish a very special kid (Jack de Bromhead) could be here today, but he's watching down on us.
"She (Honeysuckle) is unbelievable, the way Henry has produced her every day is phenomenal," said the Killenaule woman.
"She's a phenomenal mare who has been incredible for my career. She is just a credit to everyone down in Knockeen (de Bromhead's yard in Waterford), and Kenny (Alexander) is one of the coolest owners you could ride for".
Blackmore and Honeysuckle won 17 of their 19 races and earned almost €1.5million in prize money.
Henry de Bromhead said, "It's the fairytale ending. She is just an incredible mare, we've had so much fun with her.
"We're very lucky to have had her".
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