Can State Man win the Champion Hurdle on the Cheltenham Competition?

With affirmation this week from coach Nicky Henderson that his Unibet Champion Hurdle favorite Structure Hill will miss this yr’s Cheltenham Competition, all eyes have turned to the Willie Mullins-trained State Man, who’s the brand new favorite for Tuesday’s function race.

Joe and Marie Donnelly’s French-bred seven-year-old son of Physician Dino received the County Hurdle on the Competition in 2021 and he and jockey Paul Townend got here residence 9 lengths behind the all-conquering Structure Hill in final yr’s Champion Hurdle.

However State Man returns for this yr’s race on the Cheltenham Competition with an extra 4 Grade Ones beneath his belt and a wealth of expertise, and his outdated rival’s defection palms the Closutton coaching maestro a golden alternative to make amends on this yr’s Champion Hurdle.

“He’s in nice order,” says Willie Mullins of State Man. “I assumed his efficiency at Christmas [in Leopardstown’s Matheson Hurdle] was enormous, beating Impaire Et Passe.

“I don’t know if State Man wasn’t at his finest behind Structure Hill final yr. However he’s much more skilled now and he’ll be very race match. We’re simply completely happy to have the horse in pretty much as good order as he’s.”

State Man: “He jumps nicely and he’s so constant at residence”

Willie Mullins is a four-time winner of the Champion Hurdle, lifting the silverware with Hurricane Fly in 2011 and 2013, Faugheen in 2015 and Annie Energy in 2016.

State Man has received 10 of his previous 11 races, all with Paul Townend within the saddle.

“State Man definitely isn’t within the league of the pizazz of Faugheen or the pace of Hurricane Fly, however he has different issues, like he jumps nicely and he’s so constant at residence,” says the coach. “I don’t know if he’s higher, however he’s stronger. State Man hasn’t received a Champion Hurdle but, however he’ll have a crack this yr and possibly subsequent yr.”

Might stable-mate Lossiemouth line up too?

State Man heads the Unibet Champion Hurdle betting forward of stable-mate Lossiemouth, who’s extra prone to be routed to the Mares’ Hurdle on the Cheltenham Competition.

“I do know lots of people would love Lossiemouth to go down the Champion Hurdle route however I’m not even positive if there wasn’t a mares hurdle there that we’d go down that route with a five-year-old,” says Willie of the gray mare.

“5-year-olds solely win as soon as each 35 years, and often in a foul yr. Different individuals say, ‘Properly, only a few 5 year-olds go for it, however I’ve seen them all around the years and those that matter go for it they usually simply can’t line up – they’re bodily not robust sufficient. Lossiemouth could have her probability in future years to have a go on the Champion Hurdle.”

Among the many different entries for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, one in every of racing’s Blue Riband races, are Irish Level for Gordon Elliott, Luccia for Seven Barrows and Not So Sleepy for Hughie Morrison.

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H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her function as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her world wide reporting from reveals and interviewing riders, connections and people concerned behind the scenes. Since becoming a member of H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on each topic throughout the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to steady administration — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She additionally has first-hand expertise of working within the equestrian business as a using teacher and yard supervisor.