A STATE OF PERFECTION The Man for a Champion shock
PROGRESSIVE sixyear-old State Man may be capable of denying superstar mare Honeysuckle a fourth Chanelle Pharmacy Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow.
A three-time Grade 1 winner, the Willie Mullinstrained gelding is facing his stiffest task, conceding 7lb to the mare.
But, on the evidence of his Morgiana and Matheson performances – beating multiple Grade 1 winner Sharjah on both occasions, he’s a potential star.
Sharjah chased Honeysuckle home in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and Punchestown in the spring of 2021. So collateral form, involving Sharjah, arguably below his best this season, gives State Man a massive chance.
Winner of a weak maiden hurdle in Limerick, before landing the County Hurdle, off 141 at Cheltenham, he then landed a Grade 1 novice, over two and a half miles at the
Punchestown festival.
Facing battle-hardened campaigners for the first time in the Morgiana on his seasonal debut, he beat Sharjah readily by four lengths.
And I was particularly impressed by the manner of his victory over stablecompanions Vauban and Sharjah in the Matheson over course and distance at Christmas. He picked up again when pressed by Vauban with more than as furlong to race and won emphatically.
Vauban, last season’s leading juvenile, is entitled to take a step forward from that return to action. But the classy five-year-old faces a tough task against State Man and Honeysuckle.
Winner of this event three times and back-toback scorer in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, Honeysuckle must not be under-estimated, although she lost her impressive unbeaten record when third behind Teahupoo and Klassical Dream when bidding for a fourth Hatton’s
Grace at Fairyhouse.
She did everything right, edged ahead going to the second last and looked the likely winner until being collared before the final flight when the soft ground might have contributed to her defeat.
On better ground, Henry de Bromhead’s mare and Rachael Blackmore have an opportunity to put the record straight.
On figures, she should have the edge – she’s rated 2lb below State Man, but will receive 7lb from her chief rival. And, no matter what the outcome is, she’ll be tough to beat.
Vauban, beaten four and a quarter lengths by State Man at Christmas, is a serious contended too, although his Matheson conqueror appears to only do enough in his races and might be capable of taking another step forward here.
Zanahiyr, runner-up to Honeysuckle here last year, disappointed in two starts this season over longer trips, but is rated 10lb higher than Pied Piper, tailed off in the Matheson.