2022 Punchestown Champion Hurdle Tips - Mullins' mare to follow Honeysuckle home

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Fri 29 Apr 2022 07:44

Jon Vine 29 Apr 2022

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Tips and odds for the 2022 Punchestown Champion Hurdle
This Grade One will take place on day four of the Punchestown Festival on April 29th
Honeysuckle is the 2/9 favourite with Quinnbet
We're backing Echoes In Rain at 6/1 in the betting without Honeysuckle market

Expired

Rachel Blackmore on Honeysuckle (blue and white cap) approach the finish line before Aidan Coleman on Epatante (white cap) and Jack Kennedy on Zanahiyr (red cap) to win The Unibet Champion Hurdle race during day one of the Cheltenham Festival 2022. (Getty)

The card on day four of the Punchestown Festival is headlined by the Punchestown Champion Hurdle. The legendary Hurricane Fly is the only multiple winner of this Grade One, a feat Honeysuckle is favourite to match on Friday afternoon.

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

2022 Punchestown Champion Hurdle Odds

Name	Odds
Honeysuckle	2/9
Saint Roi	10/1
Teahupoo	12/1
Adagio	20/1
Echoes In Rain	25/1
Darasso	50/1

*Odds taken on 28/4/22*

2022 Punchestown Champion Hurdle Runners

Honeysuckle2022 Punchestown Champion Hurdle FavouriteGET 2/9 HERE

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Honeysuckle remained unbeaten at the Cheltenham Festival, defeating Epatante and Zanahiyr to record her 15th victory on the bounce. Henry De Bromhead's mare won this race easily 12 months ago and Honeysuckle is long odds-on to defend her crown.

Saint Roi has finished fourth behind Honeysuckle three times in his last four starts and he currently sits second in the betting. Teahupoo will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing run in the Champion Hurdle.

David Pipe's Adagio makes the trip over from Ireland to take on Honeysuckle again. Willie Mullins will be represented by Echoes In Rain, with Joseph O'Brien's Darasso rounding off the small, select field.

2022 Punchestown Champion Hurdle Tips

Echoes In Rain (w/e Honeysuckle)2022 Punchestown Champion Hurdle TipsGET 6/1 HERE

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With Appreciate It, Zanahiyr and Sharjah absent and Epatante set to take on her fellow mares on Saturday, this should be a walk in the park for Honeysuckle. While there's little to be gained from backing the favourite at 1/5, the betting without Honeysuckle market looks extremely competitive.

Like the market leader, ECHOES IN RAIN will be getting seven pounds from the geldings. Having started the season as one of Honeysuckle's closest rivals in the ante-post Champion Hurdle betting, Willie Mullins' mare went on to produce underwhelming performances in both the Morgiana and the Matheson Hurdles at Leopardstown during the first half of the season.

Echoes In Rain showed signs of life with a seven-length third in the Irish Champion Hurdle. Mullins' six-year-old then produced her best run of the season in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham, where Patrick Mullins' mount was hampered as she tried to move into contention at the second-last, but stayed on well to finish six lengths behind Marie's Rock in fifth.

While it seemed like she saw out that extended trip well at Cheltenham, Echoes In Rain showed plenty of two-mile speed during her novice season, so this drop back to two miles should suit. Mullins' charge improved with each of her runs last season and bolted up in the Champion Novice Hurdle at this meeting 12 months ago.

Verdict

2022 Punchestown Champion Hurdle

The battle for second place behind Honeysuckle seems wide open, so I'm going to back Echoes In Rain at 6/1 in Quinnbet's betting without the favourite market.

Echoes In Rain

w/o Honeysuckle

@6/1 - 15 Units

50% back up to £25

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