Super-star Honeysuckle took her third Grade One BARONERACING.COM Hatton’s Grace Hurdle making it 14 wins from 14 racecourse outings in the Fairyhouse highlight.
Evens from 6/4 to repeat her Champion Hurdle heroics at Cheltenham in March with Paddy Power now, Rachael Blackmore’s mount sat off the pace chasing the leaders behind clear pace-setter Stormy Ireland.
From before the straight she was travelling all over the only one that was keeping pace with her, eventual runner-up, Ronald Pump.
At this stage the shine was taken off proceedings a little as we witnessed Grade One winner Latest Exhibition sustain a fatal injury in the background.
Kenny Alexander and Henry de Bromhead’s Honeysuckle had her customary slight stall before the last then. She had matters well in hand before that juncture and eventually came home with eight lengths to spare.
Abacadabras and Darasso followed in third and fourth positions, four and a quarter and two and a half lengths back.
Powers later cut Honeysuckle to 4/5 for the Champion Hurdle.
"Rachael was brilliant on her and they are obviously a lethal combination. She was really psyched before the race when we were saddling her - she was trying to bite Colman (Comerford), kick Alan (Cody) and the only one that was getting away with it was me!" said de Bromhead.
"She probably gave me a fright in this race last year so maybe we did a little bit more this year for it.
"I let a lot of my horses progress but when you have only so many runs, we had her pretty straight today. She is an incredible mare and to be associated with her is amazing, and the reception she got was unbelievable.
"Touch wood she'll be ok and I think she will go for the Irish Champion Hurdle now. That has worked for us before and we can back off her now for a few weeks and prep her for that.
"Rachael made the point we had run her on quicker ground but that was at the start of her career. But everyone was happy today's ground was safe and it is fantastic to have Kenny and his family over as well and it's amazing.
"It is incredible to see the reception she got and to the crowds - we are extremely lucky."
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