Honeysuckle switched to Close Brothers Hurdle

Trainer Henry de Bromhead has decided to run unbeaten mare Honeysuckle in the Close Brothers Hurdle at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

The six-year-old was one of the favourites for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, but connections have now decided to switch races on Tuesday afternoon.

Honeysuckle is now set to go head-to-head against fellow mare Benie Des Dieux, with Willie Mullins’ stable star the 4/5 favourite for the race.

De Bromhead’s charge has won all of her eight races so far and was last in action at Leopardstown on February 1.

She beat Darver Star, Petit Mouchoir and Supasundae last month in the Irish Champion Hurdle and punters can now look forward to seeing the two mares go head-to-head.

Willie Mullins’ Benie Des Dieux won the race in 2018 and fell at the final hurdle in 2019, and De Bromhead says Honeysuckle is ready for the battle.

He told the Racing Post: ‘Honeysuckle was so impressive over two and a half miles, and it’s the mares’ championship race.

We think that’s the race to be in.

‘We gave it a lot of thought and discussed it, and that’s what we’ve all decided.

I’d imagine we’ll confirm her for the Champion at the five-day stage because we’ve come this far and we may as well leave her in and keep the option open, but we’ve called it now, and the mares’ race is the plan.

‘There are various things to take into account, but mainly it’s that her most impressive performances have been over two and a half miles.

That’s the trip she’s got her highest rating at.

She still won an Irish Champion Hurdle, but we just feel that it’s the mares’ championship race, so that’s the race to go for.’

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