2022 Irish Champion Hurdle Tips - Can anyone deny Honeysuckle another win?

Day two of the Dublin Racing Festival is headlined by the Irish Champion Hurdle. The great Hatton's Grace won the first editions of this two-mile Grade One back in 1950, and legendary names like Flyingbolt, Dawn Run, Istabraq and Hurricane Fly have since joined him on the roll of honour at Leopardstown.

We've taken a look through the latest Irish Champion Hurdle betting and picked out our best bets.

After prevailing narrowly to win her first Irish Champion Hurdle in 2020, Honeysuckle was much more dominant 12 months ago, thrashing Abacadabras by ten lengths. Henry De Bromhead's mare remains unbeaten and returns to Leopardstown on the back of a superb performance to claim a hat-trick of Hatton's Grace victories.

Sitting closest to the favourite in the market we find Zanahiyr, who's run with great credit behind Sharjah in both the Morgiana Hurdle and the Matheson Hurdle this season. Saint Roi ran well on his reappearance at Leopardstown over Christmas, but has 21 lengths to find on Honeysuckle, after finishing fourth in last year's renewal of this Grade One.

Paul Townend rides Echoes In Rain, who has slipped massively down the Champion Hurdle betting following two 15-length defeats this season. Paul Hennessy's stable star, Heaven Help Us rounds off the five-strong field.

Barring a fall, it's hard to see any outcome other than Honeysuckle winning her third Irish Champion Hurdle. Rachael Blackmore's mount seemed to relish the red-hot pace set by Stormy Ireland when Honeysuckle bolted up in the Hatton's Grace back in November, so the presence of the front-running Heaven Help Us will greatly please Henry De Bromhead.

I don't think we'll see Zanahiyr to best effect until he's stepped up in trip and I wouldn't be surprised if Elliott was already targetting the Aintree Hurdle with his five-year-old. Saint Roi clearly has ability, but his results in open company offer little encouragement here.

I'm tempted to have a very small each-way punt on ECHOES IN RAIN, despite two poor performances this season. Willie Mullins' mare was held up off a very slow pace in the Morgiana Hurdle and couldn't find that change of gear. Paul Townend's mount was still going well turning for home in the Matheson Hurdle, but was brushed to one side as Sharjah cruised past and seemed to spit her dummy out after that slight altercation.

Mullins' six-year-old improved as last season went on, winning a Grade Two in February and April before that Grade One triumph at Punchestown. Mullins has fitted a tongue-tie for this outing and if that does the trick, then I could see Echoes In Rain challenging for that final place.