3 minute read
State Man justified his starting price of 1/6 when cruising to a comfortable success in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday.
The Willie Mullins-trained hurdler only found the monstrous Constitution Hill too good last year, with Grade 1 victories either side of his runner-up effort in the Champion Hurdle proving himself as the best in the division on that side of the Irish Sea.
Mullins and Elliott were responsible for all four the runners, with Paul Townend opting to keep it simple of the 1/6 market leader, sitting in second before taking it up turning for home.
State Man turned on the taps entering the straight and although Echoes In Rain and Pied Piper both chased in hot pursuit, it was only in vain as the son of Doctor Dino eased clear for a five-length victory to make it back-to-back wins in the Grade 1 prize.
Paddy Power cut State Man from 7/1 to 6/1 for the Champion Hurdle.
"He's a pleasure to do anything with," said Townend on Racing TV.
"For some reason I love riding him and he's so nice and kind to do anything with that he's one that I just really like riding.
"It's a pleasure to go to the start and just work it out when you get there, and you're not tied to anything and he's that type. When Sam elected to go on, I could sit second, and I was happy to take a lead.
"I think we will [see a sharper State Man next time], it's no secret ours are coming on for a run, but he was smart there from the back of the last. I got a long way down the straight without committing him and when I did ask him to stretch, he did."
