2023 Irish Champion Hurdle Trends geegeez.co.uk

The Irish Champion Hurdle is a Grade One race run over 2m and held at Leopardstown racecourse each year in January.

In recent years, top hurdlers like Istabraq, Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, and, more recently, Hurricane Fly, have graced the roll of honour and the race is always a decent guide ahead of the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with Hurricane Fly the most recent horse to land both races in 2011 and 2013.

Trainer Willie Mullins has won six of the last 12 runnings, so anything he runs is always respected.

It’s also been a big race for punters in recent years with the last 12 Irish Champion Hurdle favourites all winning! Backed up again in 2020, 2021 and 2022 with the classy mare – Honeysuckle – winning the race for trainer Henry De Bromhead and jockey Rachael Blackmore. She’s back for more in 2023!

Horse racing trends expert Andy Newton is on hand with all the key stats ahead of the 2023 renewal – this year staged on Sunday 5 February.

Here at GeeGeez we are on hand with all the key stats ahead of the 2023 renewal – this year staged on Sunday 5 February.

Recent Irish Champion Hurdle Winners

2022 - HONEYSUCKLE (1/5 fav)2021 - HONEYSUCKLE (10/11 fav)2020 – HONEYSUCKLE (8/11 fav)2019 – APPLE’S JADE (8/11 fav)2018 – SUPASUNDAE (8/1)2017 – PETIT MOUCHOIR (9/10 fav)2016 – FAUGHEEN (3/10 fav)2015 – HURRICANE FLY (11/10 fav)2014 – HURRICANE FLY (4/7 fav)2013 – HURRICANE FLY (1/6 fav)2012 – HURRICANE FLY (4/5 fav)2011 – HURRICANE FLY (4/9 fav)2010 - SOLWHIT (5/6 fav)2009 – BRAVE INCA (11/4)2008 – SIZING EUROPE (10/3)2007 – HARDY EUSTACE (9/1)2006 – BRACE INCA (6/5 fav)2005 – MACS JOY (11/8 fav)