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Champion Hurdle 2022 Racecard
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race which takes place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March, and is the feature race on day one of the meeting, which is also known as Champion Day. Open to horses aged four years or older, the Champion Hurdle is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about two miles and half a furlong (2 miles and 87 yards), with eight hurdles to be jumped.
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3:30 Tue 15 Mar CHAMPION HURDLE Distance: 16f 87y Age: 4yo + Prize: £450,000 Going: Good
HONEYSUCKLE is a mare out of the very top drawer and is strongly fancied to remain unbeaten and land a third successive win at this meeting. It's tough to see any of those she's accounted for previously troubling her so what threat there is may come from unexposed pair Teahupoo, who was very good at Gowran last time, and Appreciate It, so impressive in the Supreme last year but not seen since. |
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Analyst's Verdict| ENTRY FORM |
SILKS | HORSE JOCKEY & TRAINER |
AGE WGT |
ODDS | |
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1 |
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1. ADAGIO (GER) J: Tom Scudamore T: David Pipe |
5 11-10 |
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| Second in Triumph last year and improved again when runner-up in Greatwood on C&D return. 1¾ lengths second to Goshen in Kingwell at Wincanton since. Tongue tie added. Could have even more to come. | |||||
2 |
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2. APPRECIATE IT (IRE) J: P. Townend T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland |
8 11-10 |
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| Most impressive in Supreme at last year's Festival. Things haven't been plain sailing with him since (chase campaign postponed due to injury and didn't make Irish Champion) but remains very exciting. | |||||
3 |
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3. GLORY AND FORTUNE (IRE) J: Stan Sheppard T: Tom Lacey |
7 11-10 |
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| Just gets better and better this season, second to Epatante in Christmas Hurdle before holding on gamely in Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. A chunk of improvement will be needed to go close here, though. | |||||
4 |
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4. NOT SO SLEEPY J: Jonathan Burke T: Hughie Morrison |
10 11-10 |
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| Proved better than ever when dead-heating with Epatante in Fighting Fifth at Newcastle but in nothing like the same form when well behind that same rival in Christmas Hurdle. Others preferred. | |||||
5 |
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5. SAINT ROI (FR) J: M. P. Walsh T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland |
7 11-10 |
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| 2020 County winner and has developed into a smart hurdler, albeit one whose limitations have been exposed at the top level, finishing 9¼ lengths fourth to Honeysuckle in Irish Champion. Tongue tie on. | |||||
6 |
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6. TEAHUPOO (FR) J: Robbie Power T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland |
5 11-10 |
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| Took hurdle record to very impressive 6-7 when easily seeing off Darasso by 11 lengths in 2m Gowran Grade 3 last month. Whether he can trouble Honeysuckle remains to be seen but he's highly talented. | |||||
7 |
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7. TOMMY'S OSCAR (IRE) J: Danny McMenamin T: Ann Hamilton |
7 11-10 |
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| Small stable's remarkable season typified by this one's improvement, winning 3 handicaps before taking step up to Graded company in stride at Haydock. Well worth his place at the top table. | |||||
8 |
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8. ZANAHIYR (IRE) J: J. W. Kennedy T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland |
5 11-10 |
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| Runner-up at Grade 1 level in Ireland on last 3 starts. Has 6½ lengths to make up with Honeysuckle from Irish Champion and likely playing for places again. Cheekpieces added to regular tongue tie. | |||||
9 |
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9. EPATANTE (FR) J: Aidan Coleman T: Nicky Henderson |
8 11-3 |
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| Won this in 2020 but could manage only third to Honeysuckle last year. Hasn't had to be at best to win Fighting Fifth (dead-heat) and Christmas Hurdle this winter and Honeysuckle looks too good again. | |||||
10 |
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10. HONEYSUCKLE J: Rachael Blackmore T: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland |
8 11-3 |
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| Stretched her remarkable unbeaten record to 14 when landing third successive Irish Champion last month by 6½ lengths from Zanahiyr. Can't be opposed as she bids to become first mare to win this twice. | |||||
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Betting Forecast : 4/7 .57 HONEYSUCKLE, 6/1 6 APPRECIATE IT, 10/1 10 TEAHUPOO, 16/1 16 EPATANTE, 25/1 25 ZANAHIYR, 33/1 33 ADAGIO, 50/1 50 SAINT ROI, 50/1 50 TOMMY's OSCAR, 250/1 250 NOT SO SLEEPY, 300/1 300 GLORY AND FORTUNE |
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The first Champion Hurdle was run in 1927, and its inaugural winner, Blaris, was awarded prize money of £365.
In comparison, the 2019 renewal of the Champion Hurdle had a total prize money of £450,000, with over £250,000 going to the connections of the winning horse.
The Champion Hurdle was cancelled twice during World War II, but the following years saw a golden period for the race, with National Spirit, Hatton's Grace and Sir Ken among the greatest ever hurdlers.
Indeed, the first two horses have races named after them, at Fontwell and Fairyhouse, respectively.
The 1970s featured the third Champion Hurdle triple winner Persian War and the exploits of double champions in Night Nurse, Monksfield, Bula and Comedy of Errors, who was the first horse to win two non-consecutive titles.
The 1984 winner, Dawn Run, became the second mare to win the Champion Hurdle.
In the same year she also won the Irish and French versions of the event, and two seasons later she won the most prestigious chase in National Hunt racing, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. She remains the only horse to have completed the Champion Hurdle-Gold Cup double.
From 1985 to 1987 the Champion Hurdle was dominated by See You Then, who became the event's fourth three-time winner.
The most recent triple winner of the Champion Hurdle was Istabraq , whose successes came in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
After the following year’s Cheltenham Festival was called off due to foot-and-mouth disease, Istabraq attempted to become the first horse to win four Champion Hurdles, but was well beaten in the 2002 renewal.
The fourth and most recent mare to win the race was 2016 victor Annie Power , who became the first mare to win the race since Flakey Dove’s success in 1994. Annie Power was retired in 2017 having won all but two of her 17 appearances on the racecourse.
In terms of Timeform ratings this century, Annie Power’s winning performance was one of the lesser efforts, though her four and a half length beating of the 2014 runner-up My Tent Or Yours was still a high-class effort.
It was on a par with Katchit’s 2008 success, which was the first for a five-year-old since See You Then’s 1985 victory.
The best Champion Hurdle performance this century – perhaps surprisingly - was produced by Rock On Ruby , who had two-time Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly back in third, and 2010 Champion Hurdle winner Binocular back in fourth, when putting in a clear career-best effort in 2012.
Rock On Ruby’s performance was the best in the race since Istabraq in 1998. Willie Mullins’ four Champion Hurdle wins have all come this century, thanks to Hurricane Fly (2011 and 2013), Faugheen (2015) and Annie Power, but he still has some way to go to catch up with Nicky Henderson who is the leading Champion Hurdle trainer with seven wins.
As well as the three-time winner See You Then, the wins of Punjabi (2009) and Binocular (2010) have since been added to by Buveur d’Air who was victorious in both 2017 and 2018.
Buveur d’Air is owned by J.P. McManus, who now has eight wins in the race thanks to the 2019 win of Espoir d’Allen.
Ruby Walsh is the leading Champion Hurdle jockey despite having ridden none of the McManus or Henderson horses.
The most successful Champion Hurdle trainer in recent times is Nicky Henderson, who has won it seven times, with: See You Then (1985, 1986, 1987), Punjabi (2009), Binocular (2010), and Buveur D'Air (2017, 2018)
The most successful Champion Hurdle jockey in recent times is Ruby Walsh, who has won it four times, with: Hurricane Fly (2011, 2013), Faugheen (2015), Annie Power (2016) and Buveur d'Air (2017, 2018).
Champion Hurdle 2022 FAQs
What is the distance of the Champion Hurdle?
2 miles and 87 yards
How many obstacles are jumped in the Champion Hurdle?
8
What day of the festival is the Champion Hurdle?
Day 1
What time is the Champion Hurdle?
15:30
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.
What is the purse for the Champion Hurdle?
£450,000 (2019)
Who is the leading jockey in the Champion Hurdle*?
Ruby Walsh
Who is the leading trainer in the Champion Hurdle*?
Nicky Henderson
Who won the Champion Hurdle?
You can check out our Champion Hurdle results page here to see a list of previous winners.
Where can I compare the odds for the Champion Hurdle?
Click the link to visit our Champion Hurdle Odds Comparison page.
*Since 1927
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