2022 Matheson Hurdle Tips - Mullins dominance to continue at Leopardstown

We've taken a look through the latest odds for the Matheson Hurdle and picked out our best ITV Racing betting tips.

Sharjah's love affair with this race continued 12 months ago, as Patrick Mullins' favourite mount came through late on to pass Zanahiyr and win his fourth Matheson Hurdle. Despite that stunning record in this race, Sharjah currently sits second in the betting, which is headed by impressive Morgiana Hurdle winner State Man.

Willie Mullins, who's dominated this meeting thus far, could be represented by another Cheltenham Festival winner, as Vauban makes his reappearance. Vauban looked excellent throughout his juvenile campaign, but we all know how tricky the four-to-five transitional season can be and Willie Mullins hasn't been waxing lyrical about the work his charge has produced on the gallops this term.

Gordon Elliott will throw fellow four-year-old Pied Piper into the mix. Norman Lee's She Is Electric is the long-odds outsider.

I don't make a habit of backing odds-on favourite, but with no viable alternatives in the field, I'm going to have to come down on the side of STATE MAN.

Willie Mullins' star ended last season in superb style, winning the County Hurdle at Cheltenham before following up in the Grade One at Punchestown in April. State Man and Sharjah then butted heads for the first time in the Morgiana Hurdle and it was Paul Townend's mount who came out on top, comfortably seeing off his stablemate.

Sharjah is sure to improve for that run and his record in this race alone would give him a fighting chance. State Man, however, is the young, improving kid on the block and I don't think Sharjah will find enough improvement to turn the tables on the odds-on favourite.