'We couldn't be happier with her' - Rachael Blackmore believes Honeysuckle can bounce back at Cheltenham

Rachael Blackmore has backed Honeysuckle to rediscover her form at the Cheltenham Festival next week.

Henry de Bromhead's superstar has won the last two editions of the Champion Hurdle but will instead go for a second Mares Hurdle title on Tuesday after suffering defeat for the first time in her bid for a fourth Hatton’s Grace in December, and proving no match for State Man in last month’s Irish Champion Hurdle.

"If I didn’t have immense confidence in Honeysuckle there would be something wrong with me," Blackmore told RTÉ's Game On.

"We couldn’t be happier with her. I don’t feel riding her that she has any less fight than she had before.

"There was a horse better than her the last day in State Man but she still really battled to hold on to second.

"It’s very exciting heading into next week and I’m glad she’s heading over.

"The step up in trip will help but we’ll see."

Blackmore became the first woman to ride a Gold Cup winner on A Plus Tard last year but he was pulled up at Haydock in November in his only outing since.

Galopin Des Champs is the hot favourite to take A Plus Tard’s crown in this year’s Festival showpiece.

"Things have obviously not gone to plan this year for him," said Blackmore. "But he’s really starting to come back to the horse that we were hoping he would be at this time of year.

"Davy Roche rode a bit of work on him last week. Different horses give you different signs that they’re in good form and he is showing all those signs.

"You don’t know until you get over there I suppose but from what we’re saying at home we’re very happy with them.

Blackmore added that Envoi Allen could put up a big display in the Ryanair Chase "if the ground stays on the dryer side.

"He’s definitely one that people might underestimate."