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State Man justified short-priced favouritism to take the 2024 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. Mullins said: “I was amazed with the way Paul rode him, I thought he’d be much more forward, I didn’t dream that he’d only be fifth or sixth jumping the fourth-last. But he just rode him with supreme confidence. “I thought he’d make more use of his stamina, but Paul seemed to ride him for speed today and he clearly felt there was enough in the ground to take it out of the horses in front of him. “But when jockeys are riding with confidence, they can do things like that and I feel that’s the way he’s been riding all season. He’s a fantastic jockey.” Asked if his charge is truly suited by Cheltenham and whether Constitution Hill would have been a big challenger, Mullins added: “He’s probably a better horse around Leopardstown, but he’s a Champion Hurdle winner. You’ve got to turn up to win a Champion Hurdle – we turned up.” He went on: “He probably doesn’t produce his best at Cheltenham, but you’ve got to turn up to win a Champion Hurdle. “I think Paul was probably riding him very conservatively, he was keeping everything in reserve for the last hurdle, I think. “Of course we were aware when Constitution Hill came out that the expectation grew, but you have to turn up to win and he turned up. “He’s a very good horse and he deserves a Champion Hurdle. I’d imagine Nicky will get Constitution Hill back and we can have another crack next year. Any day you get a winner here is good.” #horseracing #cheltenhamfestival #cheltenham #racingtv Must-see compilations and best bits ➡️ Greatest Hits! Some of our most amazing action ➡️ Feature-length documentaries for racing lovers ➡️ Thrills, spills and funnies! ➡️ Racing Greats ➡️ All the best Group One and Grade One action ➡️ Welcome to the official YouTube channel of Racing TV, the UK's leading horse racing channel showing live racing from the best racecourses in Great Britain and Ireland. Subscribe to Racing TV's free YouTube channel and get closer to the sport we all love. If you want to watch unmissable moments from the world of racing and exclusive interviews and highlights from our specialist shows then this is the place for you! You can also find us on Sky 424 or Virgin Media 536 (411 in Ireland): Also watch Racing TV at and via our iPhone, iPad and Android apps:
