State Man reigns supreme in Matheson Hurdle
The stage is set for another tussle with Constitution Hill in 2024
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Paul Townend crosses the line on State Man in the Matheson Hurdle
State Man cemented his status as Ireland’s best two-mile hurdler with a successful Matheson Hurdle defence but Willie Mullins admitted his star has ‘ground to make up’ if he is to topple Constitution Hill in March.
The six-year-old landed the seventh Grade 1 of an illustrious career by holding off stablemate Impaire Et Passe and backing up his triumph from 12 months ago with Paul Townend again in the saddle.
His only defeat since falling in a Maiden Hurdle at the 2021 Christmas Festival came against Nicky Henderson’s all-conquering Constitution Hill at Cheltenham and Mullins feels next spring’s head-to-head will be even better.
“I loved the way State Man galloped all the way to the line,” he said. “To me, that’s improvement.State Man is just so good!
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) December 29, 2023
Back-to-back @MathesonLaw Hurdles secured in style as he holds off stablemate Impaire Et Passe for a seventh G1 win 🤩#LRCChristmas | @PTownend | @WillieMullinsNH pic.twitter.com/ZTCAHZm72M
“At the moment, he is in the top two in Britain and Ireland but we have a lot of ground to make up.
“Looking at Constitution Hill, he looks like he’s improved as well so we have more ground again to make up.”
The final day of the festive feast at Leopardstown was another successful one for the Closutton camp, with Mullins claiming both Grade 1s on the card.
Grangeclare West was an impressive victor in the Neville Hotels Novice Handicap Chase, storming clear of Corbetts Cross and Flooring Porter over the last to come home by six lengths.
Laying down a marker 👀
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) December 29, 2023
Grangeclare West surges clear of Corbetts Cross and Flooring Porter to land the G1 @NevilleHotels Novice Chase ⚡️#LRCChristmas | @WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend pic.twitter.com/z4WTyDSsxb
“I am very pleased, we didn’t expect that,” Mullins said. “We thought the ground might be a bit tacky for him.
“Paul [Townend] earned his fee, he sat against him for three miles and jumped fantastically.
“He got him settled, tempered down his jumping and he came up for him when he wanted over the last three or four.”
Grangeclare West is now the 7/2 favourite for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham while stablemate Ballyburn has been backed into 4/1 for the Ballymore following a statement 25-length victory in the Pigsback.com Maiden Hurdle.
"He did what we hoped he might do in Fairyhouse," said Mullins.
"He jumped well and galloped out to the line. He improved hugely from Fairyhouse and I'm hoping there's plenty more improvement to come.”
The Grade 3 Beatthebank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle went the way of the impressive Jetara under Jack Kennedy for Jessica Harrington, while Champagne Admiral was a 12/1 winner of the Timeless Sash Windows Irish EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle with Michael O’Sullivan on board.
The day four card was bookended by victories for Philip Rothwell’s Galon De Vauzelle and Gordon Elliott’s Jalon D'oudairies.