by State Man took his record in Grade One races over fences to seven wins from eight starts with a comfortable success in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown on Friday and hopes to add another in the Irish Champion Hurdle in February. But he still has a 4-1 chance of avenging the only senior defeat of his career (a nine-length thrashing to the exceptional Constitution Hill) when he returns to the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
One of the many measures of Constitution Hill’s rare talent is that he dispatched an opponent of State Man’s quality with such ease at last year’s Festival meeting. Impaire Et Passe, a stablemate in Willie Mullins’ yard and winner of last season’s Ballymore Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham, was a new opponent for State Man in Friday’s contest, but the odds-on favorite still ended the career in a matter. of strides in the race until the final flight.
Related: Galopin Des Champs makes waves for the Gold Cup after victory in Leopardstown
Several bookmakers subsequently reduced the price of Constitution Hill and State Man for the Champion Hurdle on 12 March, reflecting the fact that Impaire Et Passe’s odds were reduced to around 14-1 (from 7-1 ). Meanwhile, Constitution Hill is now top priced at 4-11 with William Hill, with State Man available at 4-1 overall.
“State Man showed tremendous gear today,” Mullins said. Daryl [Jacob] entered 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 to Constitution Hill. I hope it’s here [at the Festival] keep Constitution Hill in order, but I don’t think [his trainer and owner] “Nicky Henderson and Michael Buckley are going to be worried.”
It was another good afternoon for Mullins at Leopardstown as he walked away with two more Festival favorites after decisive wins for Ballyburn, in the card’s inaugural hurdle race, and Grangeclare West in the Grade One Neville Hotels Novice Chase.
Ballyburn finished 25 lengths clear of the field and was reduced to around 9-2 for the Ballymore Novice Hurdle on 13 March. Grangeclare West, who cost almost £500,000 as a four-year-old after winning his only start in a point-to-point, is 4-1 heading into the three-mile Brown Advisory Novice Chase the following afternoon.
Grangeclare West was fourth favorite in a field of six but cruised to an easy success by six lengths. “I wasn’t expecting that,” Mullins said. “I thought I would run well, but it was an important race.
“Paul was worried that he was pulling too hard and would want to be as fit as he is, because he just extended his arms for the three miles. To do that, on that field and win like that was a great performance. His jumps were excellent, he is a born hunter.”
Henderson stable jockey Nico de Boinville is likely to face a short spell on the sidelines after suffering a suspected collarbone injury in a fall over fences at Doncaster on Friday.
James Bowen, the number 2 in the Henderson yard, will replace De Boinville in two important runners for the Henderson yard at Newbury on Saturday: Willmount, in the Grade One Challow Hurdle and Jeriko Du Reponet, the ante-post favorite for the Supreme Novice Hurdle. in March, at the previous introductory hurdle on the card.
Captain Teague can land Nicholls’ fourth consecutive Challow
Willmount made one of the most visually impressive hurdle debuts of the season so far when taking a 13-length lead in a novice event in early November, but the second and third horses at home have done little to advertise their form and appear undervalued. around 7-4 to make a successful move into Grade One company in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.
It is even debatable whether he should really be the clear favorite, as Paul Nicholls claims. Captain Teague (3.00) was an impressive winner at Grade Two level on his first start on wood and the best horse at the weights when second under a 5lb penalty in a similar event at Cheltenham next time out.
Nicholls has saddled the last three Challow winners, including the following top class chasers Bravemansgame and Stage Star, and while it is still early days for Captain Teague, 100-30 is too high a price and could extend the stable’s excellent recent record in this contest.
Newbury 1.15 Venetia Williams’ team remains in good shape and martador showed more than enough when second to a potentially very useful rookie in course and distance last time out to suggest that a first win since joining this yard is imminent.
Haydock 1.25 The move to marathon travel could well be a significant improvement from A collector’s piece. Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding found a second wind in the closing stages over three miles at Sandown last time, is down 1lb since and looks sure to appreciate the extra half mile here.
Newbury 1.50 A change to the running saw back and forth over fences get a toner She returned to form over the course and distance after an inauspicious debut in the chase and still looks quite handicapped at an 8lb higher mark.
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 (nap) 3.35 Having a Good Time
Haydock 12.15 Hill of Tara 12.50 Norman Fletcher 1.25 Collector’s Item, 2.00 Step Above 2.35 Start Up Front 3.10 Happy and Great 3.45 San Francisco
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 Individualiste
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 It is difficult to divide the market leaders, Queens Gamble and House No Mento, but the latter posted a good time finishing 15 lengths clear at Hereford last time and that simply tips the scales towards Nigel Twiston-Davies’ runner.
New York 2.25 Shanty alley has been well below his best in five starts since finishing second in this race last season, but is 5 pounds lighter this time around and would have needed the race upon returning to action after a 202-day layoff on last month.
Taunton 2.45 Skipping problems have remained Game winner He returned in two starts over hurdles this season and this return to hurdle racing seems like the right move to surpass his current mark.
New York 3.35 having a good time has made a good start to her hunting career and a 3lb gain seems more than fair following her loss to before and after winner Heva Rose at Lingfield in November.
