State Man and Paul Townend tackle the final flight© Photo Healy Racing
State Man stepped up in trip and class in impressive fashion to readily land the Grade 1 Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
He was last seen winning the Grade 3 County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival over an extended two miles and was up to an extended 2m3f for this top-level contest.
He was held up in rear by Paul Townend as Kilcruit set the pace. State Man wasn't fluent three out and the leaders briefly got away from him but he was soon travelling on their heels in fourth.
He was pushed along by Townend in the straight to deliver his winning move and the five-year-old gelding swept through to lead before the last. He jumped it two lengths clear and went further and further away from a duelling Three Stripe Life and Flame Bearer
The 11/10 favourite hit the line seven lenghts clear of Flame Bearer (8/1) who got up for second close home.
Townend said: "He's a smashing horse. I suppose the experience of the County (Hurdle) stood to him. He overcame the lack of it (experience) there and he put it to use here.
"He stays and he has plenty of boot which is the sign of a good one.
"To be honest, I was getting that good of a feel of him, I didn't need to go for a jump there (third last). Even when we landed at the back of it and they were gone a couple of lengths, once I dipped the accelerator I was happy enough I was going to pick them up again.
"I probably could held onto him a bit longer in the straight but he was getting jiggy!
"It is a very special feeling and they are by no means average horses in front of me. We know how good they all are. I think this lad is above average anyway."
When asked if he could be a Champion Hurdle contender, he replied: "Possibly, he has pace and he stays. And he has no bother jumping a fence so there is a lot of options open to him. It is a good headache to have. We'll leave it to the boys above me to figure it out."
Willie Mullins who saddled a double after El Barra took the Grade A novice handicap chase, said: “Paul thought he had lots of speed and he showed lots of gears there.
“He’s a horse to look forward to next season. With a performance like that he could be a Champion Hurdle horse — that is probably the route we will go down.
“He’s very novicey and improving all the time. Paul said he was concentrating on keeping him settled and when he picked him up he switched gears. He was only going through the motions after that.
“From the first time we worked him at home he looked decent.
“Joe and Marie (Donnelly) have also purchased his four-year-old brother before Cheltenham.”
Paddy Power cut State Man from 14/1 to 8/1 for both the Champion Hurdle and the Arkle.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
