Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 17:25 | Winning time: 3m 51.8s

Adagio^p1,t⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 152| D

16/1

Smart hurdler. Tongue strap on for 1st time, 14¾ lengths eighth of 10 to Honeysuckle in Champion Hurdle (28/1) at Cheltenham (16.4f, good) 45 days ago. Now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 122-228

Darasso^b,t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 153| D

33/1

Smart performer. Five wins from 11 runs last season. Career best when winning 8-runner Ballybin Hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, good to soft, 7/2) 11 days ago by 6 lengths from Santa Rossa, keeping on well. This is much tougher.

Form: 214121

Saint Roi^t⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 156| D

12/1

Very smart hurdler. 33/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, good 7¼ lengths fourth of 10 to Honeysuckle in Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham (16.4f, good) 45 days ago. Could be the one to follow that rival home here.

Form: 244-344

Teahupoo⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: G Elliott| OR: 160| D

12/1

Very smart hurdler. Three wins from 4 runs last season. 32¾ lengths last of 10 to Honeysuckle in Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham (16.4f, good, 9/1) 45 days ago. Better than he was able to show that day.

Form: 12-1110

Echoes In Rain^t⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149| CD

18/1

Smart hurdler. C&D winner. Respectable 6½ lengths fifth of 12 to Marie's Rock in David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham (19.9f, good, 7/1) 45 days ago. Looks up against it in this company.

Form: 11-3435

Honeysuckle⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 165| CD

1/5

Top-class hurdler. 8/11, decisive winner of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham (16.4f, good) 45 days ago by 3½ lengths from Epatante, travelling strongly. Hard to oppose.

Form: 111-111

Forecasts

Honeysuckle (1/5), Saint Roi (12/1), Teahupoo (12/1), Adagio (16/1), Echoes In Rain (18/1), Darasso (33/1)

It's pretty much impossible to oppose superstar mare HONEYSUCKLE, who retained her Champion Hurdle crown in decisive fashion at last month's Cheltenham Festival. She should have little trouble in also repeating her 2021 success in this race. Saint Roi performed with plenty of credit when fourth to Honeysuckle at Cheltenham and gets the nod for forecast purposes ahead of Teahupoo, who was well below par in the same race but is much better than he showed that day.