Cheltenham Festival 2022 tips: Templegate’s runner-by-runner guide to the Champion Hurdle

HONEYSUCKLE can defend her Champion Hurdle crown.

She has looked as good as ever in landing another three Grade 1 prizes this season and we know she handles any ground.

3

Henry De Bromhead’s mare is already the best horse in the race – and she gets a 7lb allowance from the boys to cap it all.

Don’t ignore 2020 winner Epatante who also has a lower weight. She’s run close to her best form with two good wins this season.

Teahupoo would be a threat if repeating his soft-ground Gowran win last time in these quicker conditions.

We know Supreme Novices’ winner Appreciate It is a class act. If anyone can get him fit after a year off it’s Willie Mullins but he still has to bridge a gap with the jolly.

ADAGIO 3

GIO can go. Was a cracking second in the Triumph Hurdle here last year and filled the same spot in the Greatwood before Christmas so he clearly likes the track. Hit the post again in the Kingwell at Wincanton last month and is yet to run a bad race. Looks just short of this standard but could run into the places with more improvement.

APPRECIATE IT 3

IT figures. Was second in the Champion Bumper and landed three Grade 1s in a row over hurdles including the Supreme Novices’ here last season. He was set to go chasing this year but suffered a setback so returns over hurdles after 364 days off. Genius Willie Mullins will have him fit and he looks a big threat although the 7lb he must give to mare Honeysuckle means he’ll have to improve again.

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GLORY AND FORTUNE 1

COST Fortune. Useful handicapper who won the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury well on the back of a solid second in a Kempton Grade 1 on Boxing Day. Likes this trip and a bit of cut in the ground but has his sights raised massively here and it would be a shock if he was good enough even to make the placings.

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NOT SO SLEEPY 2

NOT for me. Was a game fifth in this 12 months ago and landed Grade 1 honours when dead-heating with Epatante in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November. He put in a puzzling effort when last at Kempton on Boxing Day and is best forgiven that. It’s hard to see him doing anything better than last year’s effort at the age of ten.

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SAINT ROI 2

SAINT sinner. Won the County Hurdle at the 2020 Festival and followed up with a Grade 3 success at Tipperary later that year. Has run in five Grade 1 contests in Ireland since without looking like winning one and made mistakes behind Honeysuckle at the Dublin Racing Festival last month. This trip suits but he needs to raise his game plenty.

TEAHUPOO 4

TEA’S up. Gordon Elliott’s hope is improving with every run and hammered his rivals to take a Gowran Grade 3 last month. He seemed to relish the testing ground there so has to prove he handles these quicker conditions. Being only five, you would expect plenty of improvement to come and he’s a solid each-way contender.

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TOMMY’S OSCAR 2

TOMMY gunned. Earned a crack at this when taking the Haydock Champion Hurdle Trial in style. He travels well and seems to handle any ground. This is easily his toughest assignment yet but he is still improving so deserves his chance. His odds of around 25-1 seem about right and a place is the best he can hope for.

ZANAHIYR 2

HIYR we go. Flopped when favourite for last year’s Triumph Hurdle before a decent second at Punchestown. His sole win of the season came in a Down Royal Grade 2 in October before finishing ahead of Saint Roi when second in the Matheson at Christmas. He was beaten six lengths by Honeysuckle at the Dublin Racing Festival and it’s likely to be the same story here.

EPATANTE 4

HENDO’S heroine. She was an impressive winner of this in 2020 before a creditable third 12 months ago. She has looked close to her old self this season after a rusty dead-heat with Not So Sleepy at Newcastle before an easy Christmas Hurdle success at Kempton. She gets the same 7lb allowance as fellow mare Honeysuckle, which will be a major help. Her best form can see her make the frame at long odds.

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HONEYSUCKLE 5

GOLDEN Honey. The Queen can retain her crown. She was majestic in winning this 12 months ago and, despite what some people say, has cruised her way to a hat-trick of Grade 1 successes this season. Those three wins came by a total of 17 lengths and Rachael Blackmore has yet to get serious with her. She gets 7lb off the boys and anything like her best form would be good enough to make it a perfect 15 wins in a row.

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