LAST UPDATE | 12 Mar
STATE MAN JUSTIFIED short-priced favouritism to take the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival as Willie Mullins and Paul Townend combined today for a Grade 1 treble.
Earlier Gaelic Warrior was in cruise control for an impressive Arkle triumph, while later Lossiemouth proved far too good in the Mares’ Hurdle.
In the feature race of the day, State Man started as the 2-5 market leader in the absence of reigning champion Constitution Hill, who had run out such a convincing winner 12 months ago.
The seven-year-old enjoyed an untroubled passage through the race on the inside rail and when he kicked for home only Gordon Elliott’s Irish Point could go with him, but it was State Man who held the upper hand to go one better than last year by a length and a quarter.
Luccia ran a fine race in third for Constitution Hill’s trainer, Nicky Henderson.
Mullins said: “I was amazed with the way Paul rode him, I thought he’d be much more forward, I didn’t dream that he’d only be fifth or sixth jumping the fourth-last. But he just rode him with supreme confidence.
“I thought he’d make more use of his stamina, but Paul seemed to ride him for speed today and he clearly felt there was enough in the ground to take it out of the horses in front of him.
“But when jockeys are riding with confidence, they can do things like that and I feel that’s the way he’s been riding all season. He’s a fantastic jockey.”
Asked if his charge is truly suited by Cheltenham and whether Constitution Hill would have been a big challenger, Mullins added: “He’s probably a better horse around Leopardstown, but he’s a Champion Hurdle winner. You’ve got to turn up to win a Champion Hurdle – we turned up.”
He went on: “He probably doesn’t produce his best at Cheltenham, but you’ve got to turn up to win a Champion Hurdle.
“I think Paul was probably riding him very conservatively, he was keeping everything in reserve for the last hurdle, I think.
“Of course we were aware when Constitution Hill came out that the expectation grew, but you have to turn up to win and he turned up.
“He’s a very good horse and he deserves a Champion Hurdle. I’d imagine Nicky will get Constitution Hill back and we can have another crack next year. Any day you get a winner here is good.”
Earlier Gaelic Warrior came out on top in the Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase, to get Willie Mullins off the mark.
Twice runner-up on his previous Festival visits, the Rich Ricci-owned bay was one of three Mullins-trained contenders in the race and was partnered by first choice jockey Townend.
Having stayed out of trouble throughout, despite the Gordon Elliott-trained Found A Fifty looking dangerous Gaelic Warrior was cruising in behind and powered up the hill to canter to an easy victory as the 2-1 favourite. Another Mullins runner, Il Etait Temps, took third.
Lossiemouth was a straightforward winner of the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
The top-class five-year-old grey is trained by Willie Mullins in the colours of Rich Ricci, and Paul Townend never had any reason for concern at any stage riding the 8-13 favourite in a field of 11.
Townend was a picture of patience, allowing others to make the running before cruising through to sweep up the hill to an unchallenged success from Telmesomethinggirl aboard a mare who had been talked of as a possible Champion Hurdle contender after her scintillating win on Trials day in January.
Mullins said: “She was great – she’s a Champion Hurdle mare, we all think. Once again, Paul was very cool on her and she can improve another year on, when she’s a bit older. Running like that, in that ground, she’s got everything.
“We made the right decision (not to go for the Champion Hurdle this year). She didn’t get a grueller like if she’d been in the Champion Hurdle, she’s only five and getting a grueller in the Champion Hurdle is not what you want.”
The Joseph O’Brien-trained Lark In The Mornin, ridden by JJ Slevin, was 9/1 winner of the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, while in the final race on the opening day, Emmett Mullins’ Corbett Cross (15/8) pulled clear to win by an impressive 17 lengths in the race named in honour of Mullins’ late grandmother, the Maureen Mullins National Hunt Challenge Cup.
