2023 Irish Champion Hurdle Tips - Will Honeysuckle bounce back at Leopardstown?

By Jon Vine

Jon Vine

Share this article

Odds and betting predictions for the 2023 Irish Champion Hurdle
This historic Grade One takes place at Leopardstown on day two of the Dublin Racing Festival on Sunday 5th February
Honeysuckle is our best betting tip at 15/8

Expired

Rachael Blackmore celebrates after riding Honeysuckle to win The Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. (Getty)

Day two of the Dublin Racing Festival is headlined by the Irish Champion Hurdle. Great's like Hatton's Grace, Dawn Run, Istabraq and Hurricane Fly have won this iconic race and Henry De Bromhead's mare Honeysuckle will attempt to defend her crown for a third time this year.

We've taken a look through the confirmed field for the 2023 Irish Champion Hurdle and picked out our best betting tips.

2023 Irish Champion Hurdle Odds

Name	Odds
State Man	Evens
Honeysuckle	15/8
Vauban	7/2
Pied Piper	40/1
Zanahiyr	40/1
Takarengo	200/1

*Odds taken on 3/2/23*

2023 Irish Champion Hurdle Entries

State Man2023 Irish Champion Hurdle FavouriteGET EVENS HERE

New customers only. 18+ T&Cs and wagering requirements apply.

Honeysuckle suffered the first defeat of her career on her reappearance in the Hatton's Grace, where Henry De Bromhead's mare was beaten into third by Teahupoo and Klassical Dream. Honeysuckle is, however, still unbeaten over two miles and returns to Leopardstown looking for her fourth-straight victory in this Grade One.

The defending champion sits second in the betting behind State Man, who's risen to the top of the two-mile hurdle ranks in Ireland, thanks to victories in the Morgiana and Matheson Hurdles this season. Willie Mullins' star beat stablemate Vaubanwhen collecting the Matheson Hurdle here over Christmas and he returns to take on State Man at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Gordon Elliot will run Pied Piper and Zanahiyr, with both looking to bounce back following poor efforts over Christmas. Thomas Mullins' Takarengo is the final entrant in this year's Irish Champion Hurdle.

2023 Irish Champion Hurdle Tips

Honeysuckle2023 Irish Champion Hurdle TipsGET 15/8 HERE

New customers only. 18+ T&Cs and wagering requirements apply.

The betting would suggest that we might see two separate races on Sunday - the top three battling for the title, and the other three trying their best to secure a respectable result. That being said, neither of Willie Mullins' runners, nor the defending champion will be keen to make the running, so either Takarengo or Zanahiyr might be sent forward to make set the early pace.

State Man was much the best in both the Morgiana and the Savills Hurdle. Yes, Vauban ran well to place second here at Leopardstown over Christmas, on what was his seasonal reappearance. Yet, I felt that State Man idled when he hit the front that day and Vauban didn't exactly make inroads in the closing stages. I don't see how Vauban closes that four-length gap.

On that basis, State Man should have Vauban covered again - whether he can beat HONEYSUCKLE, when giving the defending champion seven pounds, is a completely different story.

Honeysuckle's defeat in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle has been blown way out of proportion. Henry De Bromhead's mare travelled through the race with her usual swagger, sweeping smoothly into contention entering the home straight. Maybe Rachael Blackmore hit the front a little too soon, as Honeysuckle didn't see out the trip that day, succumbing in the closing stages as Teahupoo and Klassical Dream came through to fight out the finish.

Teahupoo is now the favourite for the Stayers' Hurdle and we all know how good Klassical Dream can be on the back of a break. Honeysuckle may have underperformed, but she was still only beaten three lengths by two of the best middle-to-long distance hurdlers in the sport.

Honeysuckle is unbeaten over two miles, she's unbeaten at this meeting and unbeaten in this race. What's more, there's a very good chance that this could be Honeysuckle's final race. Kenny Alexander doesn't seem keen to take on Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle and he's already ruled out a tilt at the Mares' Hurdle. De Bromhead and Alexander will throw all of their eggs into the Irish Champion Hurdle basket - if Honeysuckle wins, she'll be retired a hero. If she loses, then Rachael Blackmore's mount will go out on her sword.

Verdict

2023 Irish Champion Hurdle

Henry De Bromhead will have his Honeysuckle firing on all cylinders going into this contest and it'll be up to either State Man or Vauban to beat her. May the best horse win!

Honeysuckle

Straight Win

@15/8 - 15 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

Bet at bet365