State Man makes no mistake in Champion Hurdle

Mullins ace takes full advantage of Constitution Hill’s absence.

State Man justified short-priced favouritism to take the Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Ridden by Paul Townend, the Willie Mullins-trained chestnut started as the 2-5 market leader in the absence of reigning champion Constitution Hill, who had run out such a convincing winner 12 months ago.

The seven-year-old enjoyed an untroubled passage through the race on the inside rail and when he kicked for home only Gordon Elliott’s Irish Point could go with him, but it was State Man who held the upper hand to go one better than last year by a length and a quarter.

Luccia ran a fine race in third for Constitution Hill’s trainer, Nicky Henderson.

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