by State Man took his record in Grade One races over hurdles to seven wins from eight starts with a comfortable run in the Matheson Hurdle at Lepertown on Friday and will be keen to add another in the All-Ireland Final in February. But he is still a 4-1 chance to secure the only top-level victory of his career – a nine-length beating of the exceptional Constitution – when he returns in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
It’s one of many measures of Constitution Hill’s freakish talent that he dispatched State Man-caliber opponents with ease at last year’s Festival meet. Impaire Et Passe, a stable mate at Willie Mullins’ yard and winner of last season’s Ballymore Course at Cheltenham, was a fresh opponent for State Man in Friday’s contest, but the odds-on selection still put the race to bed in contention . progress on the run to the final flight.
Related: Galopin Des Champs all the rage for the Gold Cup after the Lepertown romp
A number of bookmakers priced Constitution Hill and State Man for the Champion Hurdle on March 12 following, indicating that Impaire Et Passe’s odds were put out to around 14-1 (7-1). Constitution Hill, meanwhile, is now top-priced at 4-11 with William Hill, while State Man is available at 4-1 overall.
“State Man showed great gear today,” Mullins said. “Dail [Jacob] came into Impaire Et Passe and said: ‘We took twice and then Paul [Townend, on State Man] quick again a third time.’
“He ran a great race last March finishing second in Constitution Hill. I hope it will be over [at the Festival] Keep the Hill Constitution straight, but I don’t think so [his trainer and owner] Nicky Henderson and Michael Buckley will be concerned.”
It was another fine evening for the Mullins in Lepertown as he left with two more selections from the Festival after decisive wins for Kerrwick, in the draw, and Grangeclare West in the Neville Hotels Novice Grade One. Chase.
Ballyburn finished 25 lengths clear of his field and was cut to around 9-2 for the Ballymore Championship on March 13th. Grangeclare West, who cost nearly £500,000 as a four-year-old after winning his only start in a point-to-point, is about 4-1 for the New Advisory Brown three-mile Chase the following evening.
Grangeclare West was fourth in a six-strong field but easily managed to record six lengths. “I didn’t expect that,” Mullins said. “I thought he would do well, but that was a great race.
“Paul was worried about him pulling too hard and he wants to be as fit as he is, because he just stretched his arms out for the three miles. To do that, on that ground and such a victory that was going on a huge performance. His jump was great, he’s just a natural relay.”
Henderson stable jockey Nico de Boinville is likely to face a short spell on the sidelines after suffering a suspected collarbone injury when he fell over the hurdles at Doncaster on Friday.
James Bowen, the No 2 at the Henderson yard, will replace De Boinville on two notable runners for the Henderson yard at Newbury on Saturday: Willmount, in the Grade One Challow Hurdle and Jeriko Du Reponet, the ante-post favorite for the Supreme Novice Hurdle. in March, in the Head Start earlier on the card.
Captain Teague Nicholls can land a fourth Challow in a row
Willmount produced one of the most impressive hurling performances of the season so far when he pulled 13 lengths clear in a brand new event in early November, but the second and third horses home have done little to announce the form and it looks like the price was not too low. around 7-4 to successfully step up to a Grade One body in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.
It’s even arguable that it should be Paul Nicholls’ favourite Captain Teague (3.00) He was an impressive winner at Grade Two level on his first start over wood and was the favorite horse in the weights when second under a 5lb penalty in a similar event at Cheltenham next time out.
Nicholls has sired the last three Challow winners, including the excellent chasers Bravemansgame and later Stage Star, and while it is still early days for Captain Teague, 100-30 is too big a price and he could extend the stable’s excellent recent record in this competition.
Newbury 1.15 The Venetia Williams stable remains in strong form and Sailor he showed more than enough when second to a novice which could be very useful over time and a length last time that would suggest a first win since entering the yard is imminent .
Haydock 1.25 A significant improvement could be seen from the step up to a marathon trip Collectors Item. Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding found a second wind in the closing stages over three miles at Sandown last time, has dropped 1lb since and looks to appreciate the extra half mile here.
Newbury 1.50 Saw a switch to front goal over cage Get a Tonic return to winning form over time and distance after a hopeless chase start and still looks modest on an 8lb higher mark.
Newbury 12.05 Amelia’s Dance 12.40 Jerido Du Reponet 1.15 Martator 1.50 Get A Tonic 2.25 Shanty Alley (nb) 3.00 Captain Teague (nap) 3.35 Going On Well
Haydock 12.15 Hill of Tara 12.50 Norman Fletcher 1.25 Collector’s Item, 2.00 Step Up 2.35 Start Up 3.10 Happy and Well 3.45 San Francisco
Taunton 12.25 Mojo Ego 1.00 Centara 1.35 Hard Frost 2.10 Casa No Mento 2.45 Game Winner 3.20 Dindin 3.55 Someone Special
Wolverhampton 3.40 Graffiti 4.15 Swing Eddie 4.45 Verdansk 5.15 Light Up Our Stars 5.45 Starshiba 6.15 Ramon Di Loria 6.45 Ebury 7.15 Swing To The Stars
Taunton 2.10 The market leaders, Queens Gamble and Casa No Mento, but the latter had a strong time when finishing 15 lengths clear at Hereford last time and that just tips the balance towards the Nigel Twiston-Davies runner.
Newbury 2.25 Shanty Alley He has been below his best in five starts since finishing a close second in this race last season, but is 5lb lower this time and would need the run in his return to action after after breaking 202 days last month.
Taunton 2.45 There are jumping issues going on Game Winner back in two firsts over fences this season and the return to driving seems the right move from his current mark.
Newbury 3.35 Running well has made a strong start to his chasing career and looks 3lb better after beating Heva Rose – a previous and since winner – at Lingfield in November.
