Honeysuckle could be retired after next month's Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown— according to Peter Molony, racing manager to her owner Kenny Alexander.
The two-time Champion Hurdle winner at Cheltenham suffered a shock defeat for the first time in her 17-race career at Fairyhouse in December in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle.
She'll now go to Leopardstown's Dublin Racing Festival on Sunday February 5th for the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle — a race she has won for the past three years in succession.
And if she doesn't show her connections enough zest there she'll be retired rather than attempt a third Champion Hurdle success at Cheltenham in March.
"It will be Champion Hurdle or retirement", Molony told Racing TV yesterday.
"If she wasn't running to what we think is her optimum, then she'll be retired. And that's the story.
"She's been a wonderful servant to us, she owes us absolutely nothing and we all love her to bits and we all just want to get her home in one piece."
Honeysuckle's trainer Henry De Bromhead had hinted at running his star nine-year-old in the Mare's Hurdle at Cheltenham rather than the Champion but Molony's comments yesterday have seemingly poured cold water on that plan.
Molony's comments came after Tellmesomethingirl won the opening race at Naas in the Honeysuckle silks.
