Deegan and Mullins at double with regal State Man Willie Mullins and Richie Deegan both doubled up at Limerick as 1/7 favourite State Man readily won the maiden hurdle on the card. He disputed with Black Barrel over the first three flights and held a definite lead going out on the final circuit. The long odds on favourite was still going strongly swinging away on the home bend and was four lengths clear at the second last. He was shaken up briefly between the final two flights and doubled his margin jumping the last. The five-year-old gelding eased home by 12 lengths from Plains Indian (16/1). Clounts Pride (18/1) was another five lengths adrift in third. Deegan said: "Willie said not to complicate it and we kept it simple. He did it very easy and is a lovely horse - he's as good as anything I ride anyway! I gave him a few pops over hurdles yesterday morning. "He'll go on softer and has loads of boot and just got a little bit idle turning around the top bend but when I gave him a kick he quickened away down the straight. "He's entered for the Supreme and Ballymore in Cheltenham and I'm sure Willie will decide where he goes." French-bred State Man fell two out on his Irish debut, when still in with every chance in third, in a Leopardstown maiden hurdle over Christmas for which he was odds on. Mullins took the preceding race on the card with Mi Lighthouse while Deegan was successful on Rock Of Tuskar for Paul Nolan. Paddy Power cut State Man from 20/1 to 16/1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and from 25/1 to 16/1 for the Ballymore. Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
