State Man produced a dominant front-running show to win his third Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown, the place Structure Hill proved an enormous disappointment in ending a well-beaten fifth.
Regardless of struggling a second successive fall within the Aintree Hurdle, Structure Hill was a heavily-supported 8-13 favorite to get again on the successful path on his first journey to Eire, however he was a spent pressure from earlier than the house flip and weakened quickly out of rivalry.
In distinction, State Man (9-4) – who regarded to have a second Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham at his mercy when crashing out on the ultimate impediment at Prestbury Park in mid-March – continued to pour it on in entrance below Paul Townend and got here residence with 4 and three-quarter lengths in hand over Golden Ace.
Willie Mullins stated: “It is the efficiency we at all times thought he had in him. In equity to Structure Hill, I do not assume he turned up on the day. It’s totally exhausting to journey from England after having two falls and issues simply did not go proper for him.
“Our fella has run his true race and that is been a continuing factor in his racing life, he at all times turns up and runs his race. It was an enormous efficiency.
“He is simply very real with out ever being flashy. I feel the cheekpieces have made him a bit flashier than he was once. He is a lazy horse and cheekpieces simply assist him.
“Paul has been adamant about this horse for the previous couple of years, persons are occurring about Lossiemouth and State Man – he is at all times thought State Man on daily basis of the week and it has been confirmed.
“I think we were all waiting for this contest and it delivered. We’re just delighted.”
