Honeysuckle ruled out of Cheltenham

Horse Racing
Cheltenham hero set for Punchestown

Trainer Henry de Bromhead has confirmed that highly-rated mare Honeysuckle will miss next week’s Cheltenham Festival.

The Ken Alexander-owned five-year-old, who is unbeaten in her three previous starts over fences, had been one of the favourites to win Thursday’s National Hunt Breeders Supported By Tattersalls Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

However, the bay mare will now not be heading across the Irish Sea to Prestbury Park, with de Bromhead confirming they do not want to take any risks with her as she is not 100 per cent fit.

De Bromhead said: ‘Unfortunately Honeysuckle won’t be running at Cheltenham.

She’s not 100 per cent, so we’ll leave her at home.

‘She’s a very good mare with a big future, so we’ll look after her.

Hopefully we’ll be able to go to Fairyhouse and Punchestown.

‘ Honeysuckle’s absence could see another of de Bromhead’s mares, Sinoria, take her place in Thursday’s race.

Sinoria had been due to run in Wednesday’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival, but de Bromhead has confirmed she is instead in line to run 24 hours later.

‘Sinoria is in good form and I’d say it’s almost certain she’ll now run in the mares’ novice,’ de Bromhead added.

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