Champion Hurdle Tips 2022 – Two Each-Way Bets Against Honeysuckle

Historically, the Champion Hurdle was mentioned in the same breath as the Gold Cup and Grand National but it has has certainly lost some of its shine in recent years. 

It appears that chasing is the name of the game now, with owners shelling out large sums to buy from the point-to-point fields. But while the race itself may not be held in the same regard, it’s standout contender and defending champion can now confidently be mentioned along with Dawn Run, Annie Power, and Quevega in any conversation about the GOAT Mare of the National Hunt sphere.

Is this year simply a case of turning up for Honeysuckle and Rachel or is there a new kid on the block ready to step up and take the Queen’s crown? 

 

Champion Hurdle Main Contenders & Odds

• Honeysuckle (4/9)
• Appreciate It (7/2)
• Teahupoo (8/1)
• Epatante (10/1)
• Zanahiyr (16/1)
• Tommys Oscar (33/1)
• Adagio (16/1)
• Not so Sleepy (100/1)

 

Honeysuckle

A Beginners Guide to Betting (Pre Christmas 2021): Place £20 on Moneysuckle (not a Typo), allow 5 minutes for formalities, and get £30 back. The unbeaten mare has been sent off at odds on in 9 of her last 11 starts, with the only exceptions being at the last 2 festivals. So she is unopposable, right? 

Well…….Maybe Not. 

On all known form, she is clearly the best horse in the race. She is 8lbs clear on RPRs (and that doesn’t even factor in the mares allowance) and 20/20 of the last winners of the race have had an RPR within 8 of the top-rated. She arguably looked better than ever when winning her seasonal reappearance in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse, but the Shroods angle is that she didn’t hit the line as hard at the DRF and I do think there is something in that (I’m Shrood now).

I get the sweats even thinking about backing a Mare for a Championship race at 1/2 when we know that ‘seasonal’ issues can occur at any time. Whether we want to blame that finishing effort at Christmas on Henry De Bromhead’s poor yard form (which is showing signs of life at the right time) or if we think there is a more sinister issue at play is the key question? 

While she is clearly the most likely winner, at prohibitive odds, she won’t be carrying any of my money. 

 

Appreciate It 

Willie Mullins star 8 year old has only been beaten once since his Debut and that was by the (albeit fragile) machine that is Ferny Hollow. He won a poor Supreme by 24 lengths but was very taking in the way he did so. 

The elephant in the room is that is his first start in open company and his seasonal reappearance, 2 tough hurdles to deal with. If anyone can do it, (and in fact, he has with Penhill), it’s the Maestro Willie Mullins but again he is plenty short in the betting and to me, he has huge blowout potential. While I am a fan of the horse he is not for me in the current circumstances. 

 

Teahupoo

Given the record of 5 year olds in the race added to the fact that he skipped the Cheltenham Festival last year, it’s safe to assume that Teahupoo wasn’t many people’s idea of the winner of the Champion Hurdle at the start of the year. 

The criticism could certainly be leveled that he is just beating the same horse over and over and in fact, Quilixios was for me the best horse in the race at Christmas in Limerick. 

However, what draws me to Gordon Elliot’s apparent number 1 is his similarity to another Irish 5-Year-Old improver who won a Champion hurdle at 16/1. Espoir D’Allen was a 5-year-old who had missed Cheltenham and then was hugely progressive in his first 4 starts in open company before romping home in the Champion. 

Robbie Power has said that he thinks that the horse will improve for better ground and with that and the potential to improve quickly at this stage of his career, he could maybe be the one who gives Honeysuckle most to think about. 

 

Epatante 

Given a rating of 162 when she won the race back in 2020, she was actually rated just 3lbs lower than Honeysuckle’s current mark. 

However, I was really disappointed in how she finished in the Fighting Fifth, when Not so Sleepy was unlucky not win. She was better last time out beating subsequent Betfair Hurdle winner Glory and Fortune but my take is that she would have to be better than she was before to beat HS and I don’t think she is. 

 

Zanahiyr 

Went off a short price favourite (11/8) for last year’s Triumph on the basis of 2 sensational performances, but the application of the first time tongue tie was strange and indeed, he ran as if he wasn’t 100%.

This year he has been second to all the right horses but I just think he is a staying Chaser in the making and I think he will just be outpaced in this. He will be doing his best work at the finish and may run into a place. 

 

Adagio 

Coming from the race with what must be up there with most impressive form of all time (the 2021 Greatwood), Adagio certainly started off on the right note. However, a setback meant he missed intended targets at Christmas and while some were positive on his last run, I think a Champion Hurdle contender should have been able to beat Goshen getting 3lbs. 

 

Tommy’s Oscar

If Teahupoo wasn’t at the top of many people’s lists for a Champion Hurdle at the start of the year, if you had suggested Tommy’s Oscar would be getting a mention in a preview for the race, you would have been carted off to the Asylum. A horse that was beaten in a handicap off 139 doesn’t win a Champion Hurdle in the same season and while I have a lot of admiration for connections, he just isn’t good enough to feature here. 

 

Not So Sleepy 

A Grade 1 winner, in the current season available at 100/1? Seems a bit mad (the men in white coats are coming again). But that’s Not So Sleepy. A complete enigma but a guilty pleasure of mine and one that has ability. Day 1 ground will have some soft in the description and I’d be interested in this horse, particularly if he seems to be playing ball in the preliminaries. 

He is liable to do anything and while he won’t win, keep an eye out for day of race markets. Last year, one firm went 5 places in the 10 runner renewal and offered 125/1 on this horse (he duly obliged). If they do it again, I’ll certainly be hoping to take advantage of their generosity. 

 

Champion Hurdle Tips

Maybe Honeysuckle just wins but I am going to take a Chance that TEAHUPOO (8/1 EW) is still improving and can announce himself on the big stage, while at a big price, particularly with extra places, keep an eye out on what is available on NOT SO SLEEPY (100/1 EW) to hit the extended frame. 

 

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More Cheltenham Tips

Preview and betting tip for all 28 races.

Tom Segal’s Cheltenham tips 2022.

Stayers Hurdle preview and tips.

 

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