A famous victory for Honeysuckle – her second in this race and 16th out of 16 overall – unlikely to be forgotten in a hurry by those who witnessed it, but the hard facts of the performance are that it was not out of the top drawer in a way that a few of her previous ones have been, and as some of her future ones are very much likely to have to be if Constitution Hill (a possible for this race for a while) and 1 or 2 others take her on next season, for all that it was achieved with a degree of comfort. The overall time was decent – about 15 lb faster than registered by El Fabiolo later on – with a finishing speed of 103.8%.
HONEYSUCKLE (h159+ here, 163 previously) keeps beating what is put up against her but has not seemed as brilliant as when landing the 2021 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in five runs and wins since, likely to need to be if remaining in training next term: this: this particular victory was gained with a degree of comfort but by relatively narrow margins from second-tier rivals. She went second before halfway, was shaken up and quickened to lead between the last 2, adjusted left at the last (generally jumped well otherwise) then stayed on well.
ECHOES IN RAIN (h155 here, 154 previously) got closer to Honeysuckle here than she had in the Irish Champion Hurdle and probably ran her best race, suited by the return to 2m in coming from behind to track the winner after the second-last, one paced late on. She is winless this season but should rectify that next term.
DARASSO (h156 here, 157 previously) really is an admirable type, and he ran close to form again despite finding things happening plenty quickly enough, held up, ridden after 2 out and staying on without getting in a blow.
SAINT ROI (h156 here, 158 previously) ran close to form, going from the front for a change and clear early on, making a mistake at the 5th and headed after 2 out.
ADAGIO (h153 here and previously) was up against it and ran creditably, chasing the pace but tending to jump left and making no impression late on. He should still have options back in Britain in good handicaps and weaker Graded races.
TEAHUPOO (h133 here, ? previously) was not travelling from an early stage and sealed his fate with a blunder 3 out. He is difficult to assess, looking a credible Champion Hurdle candidate when thrashing Darasso by 11 lengths at Gowran but a lamentable last in both starts since.
