State Man is just champion as Mullins and Townend clean up
State Man justified shortpriced favouritism to take the Unibet Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Ridden by Paul Townend, the Willie Mullins-trained chestnut started as the 2-5 market leader in the absence of reigning champion Constitution Hill.
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 probably doesn't produce his best at Cheltenham, but you've got to turn up to win a Champion Hurdle – we turned up.
"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."
Elliott was delighted with the effort of Irish Point, who was switched to the Champion from the Stayers' Hurdle.
"I'm delighted with that run and it shows we made the right decision,” he explained. “We were beaten a length and a quarter by a proper two-miler. The horses seem to be in form, and that's all that matters."
Mullins and Townend had further success yesterday, with Lossiemouth a straightforward winner of the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle.
Townend was a picture of patience on board the 8-13 favourite, allowing others to make the running before cruising through to sweep up the hill to an unchallenged success from Telmesomethinggirl.
Earlier, Mullins and Townend had also combined as Gaelic Warrior came out on top in the My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase.
Having stayed out of trouble throughout, despite the Elliotttrained 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.
Kim Bailey's Chianti Classico produced a smooth round of jumping to take the Ultima Handicap Chase for David Bass and Kim Bailey.