Champion Hurdle Predictions, Betting Tips & Odds (Cheltenham 2022 - DAY 1)
- Written by Simon Bettarini
The Champion Hurdle is the feature race of the first day of the Cheltenham Festival, run over two miles and half a furlong. The contest is recognised as the most prestigious hurdling race of the jumps season. Henry de Bromhead's Honeysuckle was a blistering winner of the Champion Hurdle last year, under a fine ride from star jockey Rachael Blackmore. Will the current champion defend the crown in the 2022 renewal? Find here our Cheltenham 2022 Champion Hurdle race preview, with odds, tips, predictions, trends, free bets and betting promotions.
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CHAMPION HURDLE BETTING PREVIEW
The Champion Hurdle is the peak test of a two mile hurdler, a combination of speed and stamina needed to win this contest. It's a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle, for horses aged four years and upwards. It comes with a prize purse of £450,000.
The 2022 renewal looks set-up to be another cracker, with Epatante, Honeysuckle and Appreciate It favorites to win the feature race.
And now we take a closer look at this year's Champion Hurdle and try to determine which horse is likely to prevail.
Who will win the Champion Hurdle 2022?
HONEYSUCKLE is the red-hot favourite. She was imperious in winning the Champion Hurdle by six-and-a-half-lengths in 2021, justifying her 11/10f starting price. Henry de Bromhead’s mare is a perfect 14/14 over hurdles, with 9 of those victories coming at the highest level. She won by over six lengths to Zanahiyr in the Irish Champion Hurdle on February.
APPRECIATE IT was last seen when winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last year as he suffered a setback afer an impressive season. He reappered on early February winning the Chanelle Pharma Nocies Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival (Leopardstown) at odds of 1/3f.
EPATANTE has won both efforts this season, with scores at Newcastle and Kempton. Those were in the other two legs of the Triple Crown of Hurdling, the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle. Both his last defeats came at the hands of Honeysuckle. 
TEAHUPOO has recorded five wins out of six career starts. His solitary defeat came in Grade 2 juvenile company at Fairyhouse last April. He has 3 wins from as many starts this season, having claimed the scalp of last season’s Triumph Hurdle hero Quilixios in both occasions, inlcuding in the Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park.
ZANAHYR has wonthe WKD Hurdle up at Down Royal and finished second in the Morgiana (runner-up to Sharjah), Matheson and Irish Champion Hurdle to Honeysuckle this season.
ADAGIO won the Grade 1 Finale Hurdle and was a decent Triumph Hurdle last year and he actually finished ahead of Zanahiyr when finishing runner-up. He returned in the Greatwood Hurdle and was a mighty second off top weight after a wind operation. He has had four starts at Cheltenham and has a win and three seconds to his name.
Dark horses?
TOMMY'S OSCAR has won his last four starts culminating in a smooth 5 lengths success in the Grade 2 ‘The New One’ Unibet Hurdle at Haydock. He could be a contender for a top-3 finish.
SAINT ROI only finished third in the Grade 1 Matheson Hurdle at Christmas and fourth in the Grade 1 Irish Champion Hurdle last month. He has a good Cheltenham pedigree having won the County Hurdle in the 2020 Cheltenham Festival.
Betfair Hurdle winner GLORY AND FORTUNE and NOT SO SLEEPY both look beaten in this company.
At the moment, the most backed horses are the following:
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CHAMPION HURDLE TRENDS
- 5 of the last 7 winners were favourites/joint favourites
- The last 7 winners were unbeaten that season
- 27 of the last 32 winners won last time out
- 10 of the last 12 winners had won at the Festival previously
- 9 of the previous 13 winners were trained by either Nicky Henderson (5) or Willie Mullins (4)
- 10 of the last 12 winners were rated 161 or higher
- 10 of the last 13 winners were aged either 6 or 7
CHAMPION HURDLE PREDICTIONS
The following section contains our recommended bets on the Champion Hurdle 2022. Feel free to copy our Cheltenham Festival tips and get the highest odds available on the market by clicking the 'Bet' button!
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CHAMPION HURDLE FAQS
What is the distance of the Champion Hurdle?
The Champion Hurdle is run on a distance of 2 miles and 87 yards
How many obstacles are jumped in the Champion Hurdle?
There are 8 obstacles to jump for the Champion Hurdle runners
What time is the Champion Hurdle?
The Champion Hurdle is the 4th race run on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival. That falls on Tuesday March 15, 2022 and the official starting time is 3:30pm.
What is the prize money for the Champion Hurdle?
The total prize money on offer for the Champion Hurdle at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival will be £450,000.
Who won the Champion Hurdle last year?
Last year's renewal was won by Honeysuckle at SP of 11/10f, trained by Henry De Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore.
What weights are carried for the Champion Hurdle?
11 st 2 lb (4-year-olds). 11 st 10 lb (5-year-olds +). 7 lb allowance for fillies and mares.
Who is the leading jockey in the Champion Hurdle?
The joint-most successful jockeys in the history of the Champion Hurdle are Tim Molony and Ruby Walsh, but they are not in activity anymore. Top owner J P McManus has won four of the last five editions of this race, so take a look at his current jockey Aidan Coleman.
Who is the leading trainer in the Champion Hurdle?
Nicky Henderson is has won this race eight times in his career, most recently with star mare Epatante. Willie Mullins has won the race four times and has saddled the runner-up in the last four years.
