Honeysuckle is the 2021 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner, as Rachael Blackmore completed the greatest victory of her career.
The 11/10 favourite made it 11 wins in a row on the Henry de Bromhead-trained 7-year-old, with Blackmore becoming the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle - or any championship race at the Cheltenham Festival.
Pulling alongside pace-setter Aspire Tower after the second-last, the mare sprinted up the hill to jump the final hurdle several lengths clear, before coasting across the finish line, six-and-a-half-lengths clear of second place.
“It doesn’t matter what you are... we are just jockeys”
Rachael Blackmore is a star ⭐️— Thom Malone (@thom_malone) March 16, 2021
Last year's winner Epatante never looked like challenging once Honeysuckle made her move, with the Aidan Coleman mount finishing third for Nicky Henderson at odds of 4/1, behind the Willie Mullins-trained Sharjah, who was runner-up for the second year in a row.
Speaking after the race on ITV's coverage, Blackmore said she was lost for words.
"She did everything I wanted her to do. I really can’t believe we’ve won a Champion Hurdle, this is such a special race.
"It’s all about her, she’s unbeaten and she’s getting better. It’s just phenomenal."
READ: John Duggan's Day 1 Cheltenham Tips
READ: Thom Malone's Tuesday Trifecta at Cheltenham
Catch the Cheltenham Festival Show every morning on OTB Sports from 10.30.
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.