With reigning champ, the peerless Constitution Hill, not able to defend his crown following a bad scope and lacklustre work last week, Willie Mullins' seven-year-old looks to have an almost free run of going one better than last year and landing the feature on the first day.
It is likely to be another successful week for Irish champion trainer Mullins and he has the favourites in three of the four championship contests over the four days. State Man can get him off to the perfect start with victory in the first.
Since falling on his hurdling debut at Leopardstown in December 2021, the seven-year-old has only been beaten once in 11 starts and that was by the mighty Constitution Hill in last year's Champion Hurdle. He won the County Hurdle at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival but has since run only in Grade One company, winning eight of nine at the top level including back-to-back wins in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and similar doubles in the Morgiana Hurdle and Matheson Hurdle.
It would have been a good matchup taking on Constitution Hill again but without him this slick, quick hurdler can bring up a ninth Grade One victory.
この記事は The Herald の March 12, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Herald の March 12, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Sabine lands first RAF boxing title in nine years
THE first RAF national boxing medal for nine years has been claimed by a boxer from Plymouth. Corporal Jennifer Sabine, who is from Woolwell, emerged as the female under-50kg category winner at the England Boxing National Development Championships (EBNDC).
Perks off as Argyle are beaten by Robinesses
PLYMOUTH Argyle fell to an unfortunate 2-0 defeat to Cheltenham Town at Kimberley Stadium, in the FA WPL Premier Division on Sunday, with manager Ryan Perks sent off following a controversial second goal for the visitors.
Raiders maintain home record in friendly victory
IT WAS a hectic week in the world of the Plymouth Raiders, with the club having to pull out all the stops with Portsmouth Force being in National Cup action.
Nadal all poised for grand finale
Rafael Nadal will try to keep his emotions in check as he prepares for the final event of his professional tennis career.
Buttler wants to call on big guns
JOS Buttler has his fingers crossed Ben Stokes and Joe Root are keen on white-ball returns for England in a bid to get the “team back to where we want to be”.
Farmers to protest over inheritance tax
LARGE demonstrations by farmers were expected in London today as they fight to reverse \"absolutely unacceptable\" changes to inheritance tax.
Man jailed for arson threat on mosques
A FATHER-OF-FOUR who made a TikTok video threatening to burn down every mosque in Newcastle has been jailed for 20 months.
Starmer in call for 'respectful' ties with China
SIR Keir Starmer has said he told Xi Jinping he wanted “respectful” relations with Beijing as he became the first prime minister to meet the Chinese president since 2018.
Review into tree felling about to open
PANEL CHOSEN FOR INQUIRY'S INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS
'Don't ever feel you're a nuisance'
CANCER SUFFERER SAYS GET CHECKED OUT
