Champion Hurdle | |
Location | Cheltenham Racecourse |
---|---|
Date | 15 March 2022 |
Winning horse | Honeysuckle |
Jockey | Rachael Blackmore |
Trainer | Henry de Bromhead |
The 2022 Champion Hurdle was a horse race held at Cheltenham Racecourse on Tuesday 15 March 2022. It was the 92nd running of the Champion Hurdle.
The race was won for the second year in a row by the 8/11 favourite Honeysuckle, ridden by Rachael Blackmore and trained by Henry de Bromhead. [1] [2] [3]
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong, and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is the last leg of the Triple Crown of Hurdling and is scheduled to take place each year on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The Hatton's Grace Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs, and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in late November or early December.
Hurricane Fly is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his performances in hurdle races when under the care of trainer Willie Mullins at Closutton in County Carlow in Ireland. He is a dual winner of the Champion Hurdle and previously held the world record for most Grade 1 races won by any racehorse until overtaken by Winx in 2019. Originally bred to be a flat racer, the gelding began his racing career in France where he had moderate success, winning twice in ten races. At the end of 2007 he was sold and transferred to Ireland where he began to compete in National Hunt events. On 15 March 2011, Hurricane Fly ridden by Ruby Walsh won the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Katie Walsh is a retired Irish jockey who, in 2012, came third in that year's Grand National on Seabass, giving her the highest finish to that date for a female competitor. Walsh is the daughter of amateur jump jockey, trainer and television pundit, Ted Walsh and the sister of top class jump jockey, Ruby Walsh. She rode three winners at the Cheltenham Festival.
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Paul Townend is an Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. Townend comes from Lisgoold in County Cork and rides primarily for the stable of Irish trainer Willie Mullins. Townend has worked for Mullins since beginning his career as an apprentice flat racing jockey. He is a six-time Irish jump racing Champion Jockey. He was champion in the 2010–11, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2022–23 seasons.
Honeysuckle a British-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt races. In the 2018/19 season she was unbeaten in four races including the Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle, Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle and Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final. In the following season she compiled another perfect record, winning four times and taking the Hatton's Grace Hurdle, Irish Champion Hurdle and David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle. Another four straight wins in the 2020/21 season saw her repeat her victories in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle and the Irish Champion Hurdle before going on to win the Champion Hurdle and the Punchestown Champion Hurdle. In the 2021-22 season Honeysuckle extended her unbeaten run with further repeat victories in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle and Irish Champion Hurdle before winning a second Champion Hurdle.
Rachael Blackmore MBE is an Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. In 2021, she became the first female jockey to win the Grand National in the 182-year history of the race. She also became the first woman to be leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival with six victories, including the Champion Hurdle, in 2021. The following year she became the first female jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Henry de Bromhead is an Irish horse trainer who specialises in training horses for National Hunt racing. He has trained a number of Grade 1 winners including Sizing John and Honeysuckle, and is based at stables in Knockeen, County Waterford
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Put The Kettle On is an Irish racehorse who competes in National Hunt racing. She won two minor races over hurdles but made dramatic improvement when campaigned in steeplechases. In the 2019/2020 National Hunt season she won six races including the November Novices' Chase and the Arkle Challenge Trophy. In the following season she won the Shloer Chase and the Champion Chase.
Minella Times is a retired Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in National Hunt racing. In 2021, he won the Grand National under Rachael Blackmore, becoming the first horse ridden by a female jockey to win the race.
Envoi Allen is a French-bred thoroughbred racehorse competing in National Hunt racing.
The 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup was the 94th annual running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup horse race and was held at Cheltenham Racecourse, Gloucestershire, England, on 18 March 2022.
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