State Man defends Champion Hurdle on dream day for Mullins
The Master of Closutton completed a Grade 1 clean sweep at the Dublin Racing Festival
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Paul Townend delivered the goods on State Man in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle
State Man set up a mouth-watering Cheltenham rematch with Constitution Hill by defending his Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle crown at the Dublin Racing Festival.
The eighth Grade 1 triumph of the superstar seven-year-old’s career was achieved with a minimum of fuss at Leopardstown, Paul Townend pulling clear on the reigning champion who finished five lengths clear of Bob Olinger, with Impaire Et Passe in third.
The victory completed a weekend clean sweep of Grade 1s for Willie Mullins and left Townend purring once more.
State Man makes it all 8 grade 1 winners at the Dublin Racing Festival (@LeopardstownRC) for the @WillieMullinsNH stable 🥇 And completes a hattrick of grade 1's on the day for @PTownend 👏 pic.twitter.com/pL5OePkYRX
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) February 4, 2024
"He's just so uncomplicated and professional,” Townend said.
"He didn't mind Impaire Et Passe being in front and he's a joy to do anything with.
“I loved him last year and love him even more this year because he keeps winning and has proven his superiority over the horses here
“Last year [at Cheltenham], I didn't get the feel off him in the race I was expecting, so hopefully he can go and give Constitution Hill a race."
Fact To File was Mullins’ first winner of another memorable day, triumphing under Mark Walsh over much-fancied stablemate Gaelic Warrior in a Ladbrokes Novice Chase reduced to two runners – which became one when Townend was unseated at the last.
"From the first day I saw him in the yard, he was a horse I had marked down who could be anything and he is doing everything right,” Mullins said.
Fact To File ✅
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) February 4, 2024
Ballyburn 🔥
El Fabiolo 💪
State Man 🚀
A Sunday to savour for @WillieMullinsNH at the #DublinRacingFestival pic.twitter.com/kFv9EUSBzV
Townend bounced back from that disappointment to double up on Ballyburn in the Tattersalls Ireland 50th Derby Sale Novice Hurdle and El Fabiolo in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase.
The former is now favourite for the Cheltenham Festival curtain-raiser, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, while El Fabiolo also heads the betting for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
“That was everything I wanted and more,” Mullins said. “He jumped really well.
“He was very clean today and very good. Paul was able to sit very quiet on him and the horse appreciated that I think, and he did his job.”
Jody Townend followed her brother into the winners’ enclosure with victory in the Festival’s final race, Fleur Au Fusil landing the Grade 2 Coolmore N.H. Sires "Hurricane Lane" Irish EBF Mares I.N.H. Flat Race to give Mullins nine winners in total across the weekend.
Elsewhere, Harry Rogers earned a heartwarming victory when 11-year-old Lord Erskine claimed the lucrative Timeless Sash Windows Handicap Hurdle.
The veteran won the Irish Cesarewitch in 2017 as part of an impressive flat career and held off joint-favourite Magical Zoe to delight his trainer.
“It feels great to have a horse to even run here, so to come with a horse with a chance is a big plus,” he said.
“At my stage, it’s good to get it. We are lucky to have a horse like that in training.”
Rachael Blackmore ensured her weekend did not end empty-handed as Heart Wood landed the O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase, while Brucio was successful in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle under JJ Slevin for Stuart Crawford.