CHAMPION HURDLE INFO
Date: Tuesday (15:30), March 15, 2022
Type: Grade 1 National Hunt Hurdle Race
Distance: 2 Miles ½ Furlongs
Age Of The Horse: 4 Years Old and Older
2020 Winner: Epatante
The standout race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival is undoubtedly the Champion. This page will discuss everything that there is to know about the famous race, including Cheltenham Champion Hurdle Betting in 2022, runners and riders and previous winners.
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With many of the 2022 Champion Hurdle Entries having performed well in trial races, the Champion Hurdle once again promises to be one of the most exciting races of the Festival. So, check out Ladbrokes Cheltenham promotions or similar offers by other brands and get ready for the show!
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 horse race that takes place on the Cheltenham Day One, open to runners aged four or older. Taking place on the Old Course at Cheltenham, the Champion Hurdle is run over a distance of just over 2 miles, with a total of eight hurdles to be jumped also. The Champion Hurdle is also well-known for being the last leg of the Triple Crown of Hurdling, with jockeys including Tony McCoy and Ruby Walsh having come out on top in the past.
Tuesday 15 March 2022 brings the curtain up on the Cheltenham Festival and the first race, as is always the case, will be greeted by the famous roar from the stands of Prestbury Park. We have an action-packed opener ahead with several Grand 1 races included. Standout of the afternoon, without any doubt, will be the last running of the popular Champion Hurdle. Followers have enjoyed some memorable renewals over the years and the early field listed for this March tells us to expect another thriller.
Five horses have won the Champion Hurdle three times; Hatton’s Grace, Sir Ken, Persian War, See You Then and Istabraq. The latter was owned by JP McManus who has won this race a record nine times while Nicky Henderson is the leading trainer with eight victories. McManus and Henderson teamed up to win this race with Epatante in 2020 who finished third last year and will bid to recapture her crown.
Favourites have a good record in the Champion Hurdle with seven victories in the past eleven seasons. Reigning champion Honeysuckle is odds-on favourite in the Champion Hurdle betting 2022 as she and jockey Rachael Blackmore bid to extend their unbeaten run to fifteen races. Champion Hurdle offers are likely to feature enhanced odds on Honeysuckle for new customers. If successful, she will be the first mare to win the Champion Hurdle twice.
We look at the 2022 Champion Hurdle in detail below, taking in everything from the current betting odds available on the antepost market to past winners, trends and there’s even a 2022 Champion Hurdle betting guide designed to help in your quest to beat the bookies.
When is the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle? The 2022 Champion Hurdle will take place on Tuesday 15th March 2022 at 15:30, with reigning champion currently being the firm favourite in the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle betting with major online bookmakers.
It is very difficult to oppose Honeysuckle who does not seem to have any weaknesses. She can come from behind or race up with the pace and acts on any ground. Rachael Blackmore knows her inside out and will be happy to pick her way through the field and try to kick clear in the home straight.
It will take an exceptional piece of training to win this with Appreciate It after a year off the course. A bigger threat may come from the progressive Teahupoo who posted a career best last time out. He looks a good each-way bet at around 8-1 in the Champion Hurdle betting.
Epatante can pick up place money for the second season in a row. Nicky Henderson has been quite confident in his latest bulletins and is expecting a big run from the 2020 winner.
Each-way 1/5 odds a place, 1,2,3
HONEYSUCKLE
Henry De Bromhead’s remarkable mare goes into the race unbeaten in fourteen career starts, ridden on each occasion by Rachael Blackmore. Last year she quickened clear to win by six and a half lengths and has looked as good as ever this season. She claimed her third consecutive Irish Champion Hurdle last month and dominates the Champion Hurdle betting.
The Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle
Rachael Blackmore onboard Honeysuckle celebrates winning©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
APPRECIATE IT
Willie Mullins trains Appreciate It, a runaway winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last season. He was expected to go chasing this winter but that plan was put on hold due to a set-back. He has not raced for a year but if anyone can get him fit it is Mullins, the leading trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival.
2021 Cheltenham Festival, Prestbury Park, Cheltenham, England 15/3/2021
Appreciate It
©INPHO/Francesca Altoft
TEAHUPOO
Third favourite in the Unibet Champion Hurdle betting is Teahupoo, trained by Gordon Elliott. He was beaten at Fairyhouse last April but has won all three starts since. He was particularly impressive when winning by 11 lengths at Gowran Park last time out. His rider felt that Teahupoo hated the heavy ground that day and will be even better on a faster surface at Cheltenham.
EPATANTE
Nicky Henderson believes Epatante has a chance of regaining her crown after her victory in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. That form has been boosted since by the runner-up who won the valuable Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. Epatante has remained steady at 10-1 in the Champion Hurdle betting odds 2022.
ZANAHIYR
Zanahiyr is a stable companion of Teahupoo and has finished runner-up in his last three races. His most recent run was behind Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle. His rider lost an iron after a mistake at the first hurdle that day so that was a creditable effort.
ADAGIO
David Pipe’s Adagio ran a fine race to be second in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham in November. He was kept off the course with niggling injuries until chasing home Goshen at Wincanton last month.
TOMMY’S OSCAR
Tommy’s Oscar would be a fairy-tale winner for the small yard of Ann Hamilton in Northumberland. The horse has progressed from handicapper to Champion Hurdle contender, winning the Champion Hurdle trial at Haydock in soft ground in January.
GLORY AND FORTUNE
Glory And Fortune earned a tilt at this race by winning the Betfair Hurdle by a short-head. He had previously finished two and a quarter lengths behind Epatante at Kempton. He is priced at 50-1 in the Champion Hurdle betting.
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