Rachael Blackmore retains full faith in 'incredible' Honeysuckle

Henry de Bromhead's superstar mare goes into Sunday's Irish Champion Hurdle as something of an underdog after suffering the first defeat of her career last time out

HEY HONEY: Honeysuckle with Henry de Bromhead at the trainer's Waterford base last week. The brilliant mare will go in search of her fourth straight Irish Champion Hurdle victory at Leopardstown on Sunday. Picture: Inpho/Morgan Treacy

Rachael Blackmore retains "full confidence" in Honeysuckle ahead of her bid for a fourth straight victory in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Despite landing the Dublin Racing Festival showpiece in each of the past three seasons, as well as back-to-back victories in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, Henry de Bromhead's superstar mare will return to Foxrock as something of an underdog after suffering the first defeat of her career last time out.