State Man achieved comfortable success in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown on Friday, breaking barriers in Grade One races to take his record to seven wins from eight starts, and will be delighted to add another in the Irish Champion Hurdle in February. But he has a 4-1 chance of avenging the only senior defeat of his career – a nine-length defeat to the outstanding Constitution Hill – when he returns to the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
The fact that he so easily bested an opponent of State Man caliber at last year’s Festival meeting is one of many indications of Constitution Hill’s freak talent. Impaire Et Passe, a steady companion on the Willie Mullins field and winner of the Ballymore Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham last season, was a new challenger for State Man in Friday’s contest, but luckily the favorite still had the race deadlocked as he raced towards the final flight.
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Many bookmakers subsequently reduced the price of both Constitution Hill and State Man’s Champion Hurdle on 12 March; This reflects the fact that Impaire Et Passe’s odds have been pushed to around 14-1 (from 7-1). Meanwhile, Constitution Hill is currently at the top price with William Hill at 4-11, while State Man is available at 4-1 overall.
“The Statesman showed tremendous improvement today,” Mullins said. “Daryl [Jacob] He came to Impaire Et Passe and said: ‘We accelerated twice and then Paul [Townend, on State Man] ‘It accelerated again for the third time.’
“He ran a great race last March and finished second behind Constitution Hill. I hope he will be with you [at the Festival] To keep Constitution Hill level but I don’t think so [his trainer and owner] Nicky Henderson and Michael Buckley will be worried.”
It was another fine afternoon at Leopardstown as Mullins left with two more Festival favorites following emphatic victories for Ballyburn at the first hurdle of the card and Grangeclare West in the Grade One Neville Hotels Novice Chase.
Ballyburn finished 25 lengths clear of the field and relegated to around 9-2 for the Ballymore Novice Hurdle on 13 March. Grangeclare West, who cost around £500,000 after winning his only start point-to-point as a four-year-old, is around 4-1 for the three-mile Brown Advisory Novice Chase the following afternoon.
Grangeclare West was the fourth favorite in the six-strong field but recorded an easy six-length success. “I wasn’t expecting this,” Mullins said. “I thought he would run well but this was the best race.
“Paul was worried he was pulling too hard and wanted to be as fit as he was because he stuck his arms out for three miles. It was a great performance to do this on that ground and win like that. “His jumping was excellent, he’s a natural chaser.”
Henderson’s stable jockey Nico de Boinville is likely to be sidelined briefly after suffering a suspected collarbone injury in a fall over hurdles at Doncaster on Friday.
James Bowen, number 2 on the Henderson field, will replace De Boinville on Saturday with two key runners on the Henderson field at Newbury: Willmount in the Grade One Challow Hurdle and ante-post favorite Jeriko Du Reponet in the Supreme Novice Hurdle. In March, at the Barrier to Entry at the beginning of the card.
Captain Teague can land Nicholls for fourth consecutive Challow
Willmount made one of the most impressive steeplechase debuts of the season so far, clearing 13 lengths in the novice race in early November, but the second and third horses at home have done little to advertise the form and he looks underpriced. He is around 7-4 to make a successful move into Grade One company in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.
As Paul Nicholls points out, it’s even debatable whether he would actually be the clear favourite. Captain Teague (3.00) He was an impressive winner at Second Grade level on his first start over timber and was the best horse at the weights next time when second under a 5lb penalty in a similar contest at Cheltenham.
Nicholls has ridden the last three Challow winners, including later top-class chasers Bravemansgame and Stage Star, and while it is still early days for Captain Teague, 100-30 is a huge price and could further extend the stable’s outstanding recent record. this competition.
Newbury 1.15 Venetia Williams’ stable remains strong and marchator He showed more than enough to show that a first win since joining this yard is within reach when he finished second to a potentially very useful novice on course and distance last time.
Haydock 1.25 The step towards a marathon journey may see a significant improvement from now on: Collector’s item. Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding caught a second wind in the closing stages over three miles at Sandown last time out, having dropped 1lb since then and looks certain to appreciate the extra half mile here.
Newbury 1.50 Transition to front-running saw that clears obstacles Take a Tonic After an inauspicious chase start he returns to winning form over course and distance and still looks quite handicapped with an 8lb higher score.
Newbury 12.05 Amelia’s Dance 12.40 Jerido Du Reponet 1.15 Martator 1.50 Get A Tonic 2.25 Shanty Alley (nb) 3.00 Captain Teague (confectionery) 3.35 Passing Well
hay pool 12.15 Tara Hill 12.50 Norman Fletcher 1.25 Collector’s Item,2.00 One Step Above 2.35 Head Start 3.10 Happy and Beautiful 3.45 San Frandisco
taunton 12.25 Mojo Ego 1.00 Centara 1.35 Hard Frost 2.10 Casa No Mento 2.45 Game Winner 3.20 Dindin 3.55 Individual
Wolverhampton 3.40 Graffiti 4.15 Swinging Eddie 4.45 Verdansk 5.15 Light Up Our Stars 5.45 Starshiba 6.15 Ramon Di Loria 6.45 Ebury 7.15 Swing To The Stars
Taunton 2.10 Market leaders, Queens Gamble and Casa No Mento, but the latter put in a strong performance at Hereford last time, finishing by 15 lengths, which tipped the balance in favor of Nigel Twiston-Davies’ runner.
Newbury 2.25 Shanty Street He was massively below his best performance in five starts since finishing second in this race last season, but this time his weights are 5lb lower and he would need a run as he returns to racing after a 202-day absence last month.
Taunton’s 2.45 Jumping problems persisted Game Winner He is back after two starts over fences this season and this return to hurdling looks like the right move away from his current goal.
Newbury 3.35 It’s Going Well She’s made a strong start to her chasing career and a 3lb bump seems more than fair following her defeat of Heva Rose – who won both before and after – at Lingfield in November.