State Man’s perfect ten
STATE MAN claimed his 10th Grade One triumph when seeing off old rival Irish Point in the Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.
He was the first leg of a double for Paul Townend, along with Ballyburn, as he closed the gap to four in the battle to be crowned champion jump jockey.
Jack Kennedy (inset), who is suspended for today’s season-ending afternoon, had held a six-winner lead going into yesterday but he must now watch on with
Townend riding in five races.
The Corkman had looked near certain to have reduced the gap to three in the penultimate race but a stumble the last cost Anotherway victory.
Townend and State Man made it a perfect five from five for the campaign by following up wins at the Dublin Racing Festival and Cheltenham with yet another straightforward success in front of a mammoth 36,620 attendance.
Irish Point gave State Man a decent work-out at Prestbury
Park last month and Kennedy was keen to push on at the head of affairs.
He was still in front turning for home but Townend was sitting far more comfortably on State Man and they edged past approaching the final flight, where a much-better jump secured a decisive
advantage.
Credit
To his credit, Irish Point battled on gamely all the way to the line, but 2-7 favourite State Man was always in control at that stage and ultimately obliged by two lengths.
It was a second straight success in this race for the victor, who has now come out on top in 12 of his last 13 races, only losing out to Constitution Hill at Cheltenham last year.
“A few of them had run a little disappointing today and we were a bit worried going out,” said Willie Mullins.
“We were wondering what
tactics Jack would use and the game went according to how we thought it would go.
“He just did what he normally does, pulled it out when he needed to pull it out.
“Paul said there was a cameraman on the line and he stopped to have a look and prick his ears at him. That’s the sort of horse he is, he’s just got lots of talent and he keeps doing it, which is huge.
“He’s very uncomplicated, he’s uncomplicated in his stable, he’s an old pet.”
When asked about future plans, he added: “Hurdling now is his career.
“He’s come a long way. He was a nice one in the County Hurdle and he was a nice one in a maiden hurdle at Limerick for 7lb claiming riders!
“He’s very easy to do anything with, a lovely horse.
Test
“Irish Point would be a fair test, and we thought he was going to make it a fair test. Paul said he was going to ride him like he’s the best horse and forget about everything else. That’s where Paul is very good, things don’t get to him.”
Ballyburn had to work harder than expected for victory in the
Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown but still helped Mullins become the most successful trainer in Irish racing history.
Mullins moved past the great Dermot Weld with career win number 4,378, even though the latest star to emerge from his Closutton production line was a little below par.
A couple of sloppy jumps left Townend nudging the 1-5 market leader on the turn for home, but he soon reeled in front-running stablemate Mirazur West once straightening up.
Jessica Harrington’s Jetara came out of the chasing pack to move into second place, but Ballyburn produced a fine leap when it mattered most at the last to quickly ease any fears of an upset.
Although not as impressive as when powering home in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, the six-year-old completed a hat-trick of Grade One triumphs with three and a quarter lengths to spare.
On his record-breaking feat, Mullins said: “Dermot pioneered going down to Australia and won the Belmont Stakes, an American Triple Crown race. He’s done superb things, so to be mentioned alongside him is fantastic.”
Impressive
Brides Hill extended her unbeaten run to four with an impressive victory in the Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Glencarraig Lady Francis Flood Mares Chase at Punchestown.
Gavin Cromwell’s seven-year-old missed out on running at the Cheltenham Festival due to soft ground but gained ample compensation in this Grade Two contest over two and a half miles.
Townend set out to make it a true test with a positive ride on Allegorie De Vassy, but Sean Flanagan always looked confident and comfortable on 15-8 chance Brides Hill in behind.
They picked off the favourite at the penultimate fence and then powered clear to score by 21 lengths, with
Instit plugging on for second for Mullins, while stablemate Allegorie De Vassy faded out.
Cromwell said: “She was very good. I was concerned, as I thought the ground was gone for her, to be honest.
“She was foot perfect, she has had issues with her jumping in the past but she’s become very good now.”