Gradguide New Feature Race Sponsor on Student Race Day at Leopardstown

Beginning on Friday, Mar. 11, the first 1,000 students to sign up to Gradguide's free platform will receive access to purchase their Apr. 6 Student Race Day ticket for Leopardstown at a discounted price of €20. Gradguide, which connects students and graduates with fast-growing companies across Ireland, the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and the U.S.A., is also the new sponsor of the Listed Heritage S. at Leopardstown on Apr. 6. To sign up to Gradguide, please click here.

Mark Hughes, CEO & Founder of Gradguide, said, “Gradguide is excited to partner with Leopardstown Racecourse the return of their Student Race Day on Wednesday, Apr. 6. This is the first Student Race Day to be held since 2019 and we can't wait to celebrate the day in style with thousands of students at the home of Irish Racing.”

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‘Incredible’ Honeysuckle Wins 13th Straight Race Under Rachel Blackmore

Henry de Bromhead's superstar mare Honeysuckle extended her unbeaten run to a lucky 13 with a third consecutive Hatton's Grace Hurdle victory.
For the third year in succession, Rachael Blackmore guided the 7-year-old home at her favorite Fairyhouse by eight lengths to kickstart her season in style in the headline Grade 1 race on Sunday.

The heavy favorite watched on as Willie Mullins' Stormy Island did all the early running, but the unbeaten Champion Hurdler and queen of National Hunt racing had it sewn up by the third last.

After claiming the BARONERACING.COM Hatton's Grace Hurdle, De Bromhead said: “I'm delighted with that, Rachael was brilliant on her and they are just a lethal combination, in fairness to them.

“She was really psyched before the race, she was trying to bite and kick and the only one who was getting away with it was me, actually.

“She probably gave me a fright last year so we might have done a little bit more this year for it, but when you've only so many runs – with a lot of mine I'd let them progress, but she was pretty straight.

“She's an incredible mare and to be associated with her is amazing. The reception she's got from everyone here is incredible.

“I'm at the stage now where I tell myself 'she's going to get beaten this time'. I'm nervous before she runs but we're so lucky to have her as well. I had convinced myself all week that she was going to get beaten.”

Honeysuckle made it a magnificent seven out of seven wins in races at Fairyhouse and De Bromhead indicated she would be heading for the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown next.

He added: “I think it will be the Irish Champion Hurdle next, touch wood she'll be OK. That route has worked before so we can back off her for a few weeks now, we haven't really discussed anything after today.

“It's fantastic to have [owner] Kenny (Alexander) and his family over today and it's amazing.”

De Bromhead lauded “brilliant” Blackmore for not letting Stormy Ireland get too far out ahead after Mullins' horse bolted to the front of the field virtually from the off.

The win came as Honeysuckle stepped back up in trip having not raced over 2m4f since winning this contest last year, and De Bromhead reiterated just how lucky he feels to have her under his command.

He added: “We have run her on quicker ground, in her maiden hurdle, but it was safe today.

“They were racing from a long way out. Stormy Ireland went a right gallop and we saw at Punchestown last year, you wouldn't want her getting too far in front but Rachael was aware.

“She (Stormy Ireland) stopped quite quickly, so then I was looking for the dangers behind. I just have to try to remember how brilliant Rachael is and try not to worry as much. How lucky are we to be associated with her.”

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Lope De Vega’s Duke De Sessa Takes The Eyrefield

After Saturday's exhilarating juvenile action at Doncaster and Saint-Cloud, Leopardstown pitched in late afternoon to offer up its own 2022 Classic hopeful in TDN Rising Star Duke de Sessa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the nine-furlong G3 Eyrefield S. Impressive over a mile at The Curragh when breaking his maiden Aug. 21, Newtown Anner Stud Farm's homebred had disappointed when sixth of seven over the same track dropping a furlong for the Sept. 12 G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. and had a point to prove in a deep renewal of this prize. Waited with in rear early as Colin Keane watched the action unfold, the 11-2 shot was still at the tail of the field two out but got motoring down the outer to reel in Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) in the last 50 yards. At the line, he had prevailed by half a length, with 1 1/4 lengths back to Anchorage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in third in a race that is likely to be a source of big names from next year onwards.

“He's a lovely colt, still immature, and he'll make a lovely colt next year,” trainer Dermot Weld said. “Hopefully he'll come back for a Guineas trial and I see him potentially as an Irish 2000 Guineas horse. He just had to wait there to get him out and get him balanced and he came home exceptionally well. He has a lot of pace this horse and the lovely thing about him is that he has stamina as well. He'll be a lovely mile or mile-and-a-quarter horse for next year, please God.”

Duke de Sessa is a son of the G3 Give Thanks S. runner-up Dark Crusader (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who is a half to the Listed Yeats S. winner and G3 Stanerra S.-placed Naughty Or Nice (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The third dam Mosaique Bleue (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}), who produced the GI Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup H. hero Subtle Power (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), is a half-sister to the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Muncie (Ire) also by Sadler's Wells, and the G1 Prix Royal-Oak winner Mersey (GB) (Crystal Palace {Fr}). Dark Crusader's yearling and foal are full-brothers to Duke de Sessa.

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
EYREFIELD S.-G3, €50,000, Leopardstown, 10-23, 2yo, 9fT, 1:56.74, gd.
1–DUKE DE SESSA (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
     1st Dam: Dark Crusader (Ire) (GSP-Ire, SP-Eng, $141,387), by Cape Cross (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Monty's Girl (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Mosaique Bleue (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (£60,000 RNA Ylg '20 GOFOR). O/B-Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Dermot Weld; J-Colin Keane. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $52,305. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Piz Badile (Ire), 131, c, 2, Ulysses (Ire)–That Which Is Not, by Elusive Quality. O/B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €10,000.
3–Anchorage (Ire), 131, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Vanzara (Fr), by Redoute's Choice (Aus). O-Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €5,000.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 5.50, 10.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: French Claim (Fr), Boundless Ocean (Ire), Voice of Angels (GB), Grenoble (GB), Good Heavens (Ire), Lullaby (Ire), Warren Beach (Ire), Glory Daze (Ire), Caroline Herschel (Ire), Allihies (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Half to Preakness Hero War of Will Debuts at Leopardstown

13.40 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 7fT
Flaxman Holdings Ireland's SIERRA NEVADA (American Pharoah) is a Jessica Harrington-conditioned daughter of Listed Prix de Bagatelle victrix Visions of Clarity (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and thus a half-sister to MGISW GI Preakness S.-winning sire War of Will (War Front) and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S.-winning sire Pathfork (Distorted Humor). The homebred bay encounters a baker's dozen in this unveiling.
14.15 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, c/g, 7fT
Coolmore and Westerberg's STAR OF INDIA (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}), one of two contenders representing Ballydoyle, is a full-brother to this term's G3 Hampton Court S. runner-up Roman Empire (Ire) and a half-brother to G1 Phoenix S.-winning sire Sudirman (Henrythenavigator). Set to be partnered by Seamus Heffernan, the Aidan O'Brien incumbent faces one dozen rivals in this debut.

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