State Man is looking a ‘worthy favourite’ for Champion Hurdle
Constitution Hill unable to defend his crown, State Man appears to have been presented with a gilt-edged opportunity to claim Unibet Champion Hurdle glory on today’s opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
The seven-year-old has met with defeat only once since joining Willie Mullins - and that was when left trailing in the wake of Nicky Henderson's brilliant hurdler 12 months ago.
State Man has since won a second Morgiana Hurdle, a second Matheson Hurdle and a second Irish Champion Hurdle, taking his overall tally of Grade One victories to eight.
Last month, hopes appeared high within the Mullins camp that the chestnut gelding could at least make more of a race of it with Constitution Hill this time around, and it is undoubtedly a bitter blow to the race that the rematch will not take place after the reigning champion was ruled out.
In his absence, State Man will be cramped odds to provide Mullins with a fifth Champion Hurdle triumph following the previous victories of dual winner Hurricane Fly, Faugheen and Annie Power - but the trainer himself is taking nothing for granted.
"He looks a worthy favourite and hopefully he can prove himself to be a proper favourite," Mullins said on the Cheltenham gallops yesterday morning. "He's been doing everything right, so it would be great if he could win a Champion Hurdle, but nothing is a given when you come over here."
Paul Townend has steered State Man to all but one of his ten career wins so far and the leading rider hopes he can conwith tinue his winning streak on his return to the Cotswolds.
He said: "He's been excellent this season, hopefully he can keep it going for another day. This is his third time here, so he knows the run of the place."
The biggest threat to the redhot favourite is Gordon Elliott's Irish Point, who for much of the season looked set to contest the Stayers' Hurdle later in the week.
However, with Constitution Hill not in attendance and Elliott and owners Robcour already responsible for a major Stayers' Hurdle contender in the form of Teahupoo, they have decided to split their aces.
"If you take the favourite out of it, it looks an open race. I think there's only two horses in the race under about 10-1, so we have to take our chance," said Elliott. "I'm not worried about the trip."
Henderson has won the Champion Hurdle on a record nine occasions and despite Constitution Hill's defection, the Seven Barrows handler fires a twin assault, with his supplemented Betfair Hurdle winner Iberico Lord joined by high-class mare Luccia.
The home team also includes Kerry Lee's Nemean Lion and Hughie Morrison's admirable veteran Not So Sleepy, who has been kept fresh for this race since landing the rescheduled Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Sandown in early December.
The 12-year-old's title-chasing jockey Sean Bowen said: "State Man looks the one, but there doesn't look too much beyond him. I schooled Not So Sleepy last week and he was in great form with himself, so hopefully we can play a part.”
Mullins sends over a youthful second string in Zarak The Brave, while it would be a mystery of Cluedo proportions if Lorna Fowler's outsider Colonel Mustard comes out on top.