State Man, ridden by jockey Paul Townend, more than lived up to his billing as the favourite for the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle at Punchestown this evening, after beating out Vauban and Colonel Mustard.
With no Constitution Hill to compete with - the horse who beat him in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham - the Willie Mullins trained State Man picked up his fourth Grade One win of the season.
It was a one-two finish for Mullins, with Vauban also under his watch, while his other horse, Sharjah, finished fourth.
The Gordon Elliot trained Pied Piper, jockeyed by Rachel Blackmore, finished in a disappointing sixth.
Willie Mullins's State Man Takes Home The Champion Hurdle At Punchestown
State Man - all class in the @paddypower Champion Hurdle
🏇 10 runs
🥇 Seven wins
🏆 @punchestownrace Champion Hurdle
🏆 Irish Champion Hurdle
🏆 Matheson Hurdle
🏆 Morgiana Hurdle
🏆 Champion Novice Hurdle@WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend pic.twitter.com/WHfwelT8N7— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 28, 2023
READ HERE: Horse Racing : Willie Mullins Pays Tribute To Klassical Dream's Late Owner After Punchestown Win
Colonel Mustard's trainer Lorna Fowler had given her views before the race, and predicted a strong performance from her third placed horse.
"I’m really happy with him. He was beaten fair and square in Ayr but he ran great, beaten by a horse (Rubaud) carrying less weight and a better horse at the weights, so I’d no gripes with it," said Fowler.
“We obviously think a lot of our horse. He’s been lightly-raced this season. Nobody can account for the bounce factor but we’ve given him every chance in every way to bounce back. He’s a good traveller, drinks well and I’m really happy to be going and really happy with him.
“On ratings he’s not going to beat a few, but it could be a tactical race and the prize money is fantastic.
“It just feels the right decision to be going and I really feel that he could run a good race. I hope so anyway.”
