Having conquered the Dublin Racing Festival, Sophie Leech is now focussed on landing a telling blow at the Cheltenham Festival with the improving Madara.
The five-year-old, who is owned by Brian Drew and Friends, was a taking winner over two miles at Prestbury Park in December but took another leap forward when sealing a rare victory for the British raiders in the Listed Ryanair Handicap Chase at Leopardstown.
It was yet another enterprising move from the Leech operation, with the trainer – alongside husband and assistant Christian – a regular visitor to France with their string, where they have managed to get their hands on Graded and Listed prizes.
However, Madara’s impressive triumph in Dublin was by far their biggest on UK or Irish soil and now has the Gloucestershire operation dreaming of success at the Cheltenham Festival, where they are leaning towards stepping the gelding up in trip for the Trustatrader Plate.
“He looks to be improving and is remarkable really – 100 per cent, I have never experienced anything like Saturday before, it was on another level,” said Leech.
“He has really settled into our way of doing things and has thrived. He’s so laid back and just takes everything in his stride. He’s old beyond his years and just a wonderful horse to be around really – he’s just a joy.
“It’s difficult to know (how high he could go) and I never imagined he would get to where he is now. But he looks to still have something in hand, so hopefully he can keep on improving.”
On Cheltenham, Leech added: “100 per cent, the dream is still alive. I think the more we think about it, we are probably erring more towards the Plate.
“However, if it was heavy ground, he could probably drop back to two miles, so he will have an entry in both (the Plate and Grand Annual) to give him all options.”
Madara was ridden at Leopardstown by former French champion jockey James Reveley, with Leech knowing the Yorkshireman well from her team’s ventures across the English Channel.
He showcased all his style and craft in the saddle when guiding Madara through the field to strike approaching the last in Ireland and the trainer is banking on calling on his services once again at Prestbury Park next month.
She added: “James is really keen to ride him again (at Cheltenham) and part of the idea behind getting James to ride him at Leopardstown was we wanted continuity ideally for the Festival.
“We are unlikely to get Harry Cobden (at Cheltenham) and he certainly wasn’t able to come over to Ireland, so James will keep the ride for sure.
“James is so experienced and we know him well, he has ridden lots for us in France.”
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Point-to-Point Authority (PPA) have pledged to carry out a full review into the tragic death of Keagan Kirkby to gauge whether any lessons can be learned.
A highly-valued member of the Paul Nicholls team in Ditcheat, Kirkby, 25, was riding at a meeting at Charing in Kent on Sunday when his horse ran through the wing of a fence in the final race of the day.
A joint-statement from the BHA and PPA read: “The necessary steps in response to this tragic incident commenced immediately after the race on Sunday and have continued today.
“The BHA are visiting the site and will work with the PPA, the racecourse and attending medical teams to ensure that the incident is fully reviewed.
“All of the relevant bodies will also assist the police and/or Environmental Health Officer with any enquiries they wish to make.
“The medical facilities and teams at Charing racecourse on Sunday were fully compliant with the required standards and included two racecourse doctors and three fully equipped ambulances with paramedic crews.
“The medical team attended Mr Kirkby within 30 seconds of his fall. Further support was provided by 999 road and air ambulances.
“Despite the immediate medical attention, the injuries were of such an extent that it was not possible to save Mr Kirkby’s life.
“It is important that, with any incident such as this, we do all that we can to understand what caused it, and whether there is anything we can learn from it.
“There is a risk attached to racing which can never be entirely removed, but we are committed to ensure that we assess every incident and use any findings to help continually improve our safety record.
“Our thoughts remain with Keagan Kirkby’s family and his many friends and colleagues from within the racing industry and beyond.
“The Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) are coordinating support for the Kirkby family, his places of work and any staff member or participant at the event.”
Tributes have poured in for Kirkby, led by Sir Anthony McCoy, Kirkby’s boyhood hero, who posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Tragically sad news. My thoughts are with Keagan’s family, friends and everyone at Ditcheat.”
Leading trainer Fergal O’Brien commented: “Every now and then, things happen that make you regain perspective. A very sad day for racing. Love to those who lost a friend.”
Nicholls’ stable jockey Harry Cobden said: “A terrible tragedy. Keagan loved his job and was an integral part of Team Ditcheat.”
Assistant trainer Charlie Davies added: “A heartbreaking day, Keagan was as kind and enthusiastic a guy you could meet.
“We started at Paul’s on the same day four and a half years ago and became great friends. I am and always will be proud to be your friend and will miss you greatly.”
Fellow Ditcheat team member Scott Sainsbury posted: “Heartbroken is an understatement, to have you as a best friend has been the biggest privilege life has given to me.
“Such a kind soul and an absolute gentleman and to know that I won’t be able to give you a hug and catch up with you anymore tears me up.”
The 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League will take place from 28 August to the 6 October with final will once again taking place in Guyana with the National Stadium in Providence hosting the conclusion of the Men’s event for the third year.
The tournament plans to have matches in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago, Once again, the window for the CPL will not clash with West Indies fixtures so the best Caribbean talent will be on show at the Biggest Party in Sport.
Pete Russell, Republic Bank CPL’s CEO, said: “We are very pleased that this window allows the CPL to give the best players from the Caribbean the opportunity to showcase their talents. The window also allows CPL franchises to sign the best available international players after successful discussions with other leagues to avoid the same clashes we had in 2023. As always,we would like to thank Cricket West Indies for their help and support in finding a window that works so well for all stakeholders.”
Johnny Grave, Cricket West Indies CEO, said: "We are pleased to have once again worked closely with the CPL to strategically prioritize this window so that all West Indian cricketers can participate in the full CPL tournament once again. With the 2024 CPL taking place just two months after hosting the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in the region, it provides another fantastic opportunity for our fans to enjoy some world class exciting T20 cricket and for our regional governments to benefit from more cricket generated economic activity.”
Jack Kennedy was thrilled to secure his first ever seasonal century of winners after Coko Beach made a foot-perfect debut in the cross-country sphere at Punchestown.
The multiple Grade One-winning rider has suffered more than his fair share of injury setbacks in recent years, but leads Paul Townend in the race to be crowned this season’s champion jockey in Ireland.
The 24-year-old was out of luck at the Dublin Racing Festival over the weekend, but made an immediate impact for his boss Gordon Elliott in the opening race on Monday.
Coko Beach, whose CV includes big-race wins in the Thyestes Chase and the Troytown, was the 11-8 favourite for the SBK P.P. Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase and took to the new discipline like a duck to water, passing the post with six lengths in hand over Enda Bolger’s Genois.
https://x.com/IrishRacing365/status/1754500611708527059?s=20
Betfair halved the Gigginstown-owned winner to 5-1 for the championship event at Cheltenham in March.
Kennedy said: “It’s great to get it and it was lovely to do it on something like that – it’s probably as much fun as I’ve ever had on a racehorse, to be honest.
“He loved it and is a natural. I was excited when I saw him entered. Gordon has brought him to a local cross-country track for about a year to sweeten him up a bit. He’s won some good pots in that time.
“He loved it and was looking for the next one (obstacle) all the time. I’m not sure who enjoyed it more, me or him!
“He’s obviously a high-class horse and it opens up more doors for him.
“I was stuck on 99 for a while and delighted to get it done.”
Nicky Henderson is under no illusions about the formidable test awaiting him at the Cheltenham Festival next month after witnessing the domination of Willie Mullins first hand at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Not for the first time, the master of Closutton carried all before him at the Dublin Racing Festival, enjoying a remarkable clean sweep in the eight Grade Ones and winning nine of the 15 races overall.
Henderson did not saddle a runner at the Foxrock track over the course of the weekend, but did make the journey across the Irish Sea as an interested observer for day two.
He said: “I was just there doing a bit of spying! It was a great day’s racing, Willie is amazing and I’m not sure I’m in a desperate hurry to go and join that party.”
The highlight of the five-timer on the second day for Mullins was State Man’s successful defence of the Irish Champion Hurdle.
The seven-year-old’s only defeat when completing over obstacles since joining Mullins came at the hands of Henderson’s Seven Barrows superstar Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle itself last season, and the pair look set for a mouthwatering rematch at Prestbury Park in mid-March.
“I thought we saw a lot of impressive performances yesterday – State Man was, El Fabiolo was and so was Ballyburn in the novice hurdle,” Henderson added.
“We’re going to have to take all of them on in five weeks’ time, we’re involved in all the races they’ll be going for, so we’ll just have to give it a go and probably take our medicine.”
Constitution Hill has raced only once this season, winning his second Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day with his usual dominance.
A potential second outing in the Unibet (International) Hurdle at Cheltenham, won by the Mullins-trained Lossiemouth, was scuppered by an unsatisfactory scope and Henderson will now have to ensure he gets his charge back to concert pitch on the Lambourn gallops.
“He’s just starting his build up. We haven’t scoped him again recently, he’ll do that after he’s done a bit of faster work probably,” said the trainer.
“He’s fine, we’ve got five weeks to go and we know where we are.”
Henderson also provided an upbeat bulletin on Jonbon following his shock defeat in the rescheduled Clarence House Chase on Festival Trials day at Cheltenham.
He will almost certainly be second-favourite to defeat his old rival El Fabiolo in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase following the latter’s Dublin Chase romp.
“Jonbon is very well, he couldn’t be better,” Henderson added.
Shishkin will bid to tee up a shot at the Cheltenham Gold Cup when he headlines a maximum field of five for Saturday’s Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury.
Nicky Henderson’s dual Cheltenham Festival hero was in the process of running a huge race in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day and was still to be headed when stumbling after the second-last and unseating Nico de Boinville.
The 10-year-old returned from that race with a sore splint, but the master of Seven Barrows reports his charge to be firing on all cylinders ahead of his scheduled outing in the weekend’s Grade Two contest.
“He’s very much on course for Saturday, I’m very happy with him,” said Henderson.
“Considering everything, Kempton was his first run of the year and it was going to be a very good run. It might have been a winning one for all we know.
“Either way it was a great comeback run, he’ll have tightened up a bit for that, he’s ready for this weekend and away we go, I hope.”
Dan Skelton has entered Protektorat on the back of his fine run in defeat behind L’Homme Presse in Lingfield’s Fleur De Lys Chase, while Paul Nicholls has given Hitman the option of providing Ditcheat with a record-extending 11th win.
Kim Bailey’s Does He Know and Anthony Honeyball’s veterans’ chase series champion Sam Brown are the others in the mix after Monday’s entries.
In the other Grade Two on the card, the Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase, Venetia Williams’ Funambule Sivola will attempt to leave some recent disappointments behind him in search of a hat-trick in the race.
The winner in both 2022 and 2023, he will arrive at the Berkshire track with questions to answer. However, similar comments applied last season before he bounced back to form with an impressive three-and-a-half-length success.
Harry Fry has kept Boothill’s powder dry in recent weeks in favour of a crack at this, with Alan King’s Edwardstone arguably the biggest name in the line-up, dropping back in trip after a below-par display in Kempton’s Silviniaco Conti Chase.
Editeur Du Gite (Gary Moore), track-and-trip winner Amarillo Sky (Joe Tizzard) and the Skelton-trained Calico complete the list of six possibles.
Gigginstown House Stud are leaning towards trying to win their own Ryanair Chase with Conflated.
A faller in that race two years ago at the Cheltenham Festival, the former Irish Gold Cup and Savills Chase hero stepped up in trip for a shot at the Gold Cup 12 months ago, where he finished an honourable third behind Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame.
Although sent off the 20-1 outsider when tasked with taking on Galopin Des Champs again in the latest edition of the Irish Gold Cup on Saturday, Gordon Elliott’s 10-year-old more than played his part and was far from completely out of the equation when unseating Jack Kennedy at the final fence.
Conflated currently heads the market for the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham, but with the owners having dual winner Delta Work also in the mix for that contest and having proven he is still a capable Grade One performer, the gelding is likely to be pitched into a Ryanair with an open feel following the setback suffered by long-time ante-post favourite Allaho.
“He gave Jack the same unseat as he gave Sam Ewing at Christmas (in the Savills Chase). It was the same corner of the same fence,” explained Gigginstown’s Eddie O’Leary.
“He was running a huge race regardless and we had just dropped in behind in that moment.
“It will be more than likely be the Ryanair (next, at Cheltenham) – he’s still in the mix for both, but it will more than likely be the Ryanair.”
He went on “We believe he is a quick three-miler who might not get an extended three miles on a staying track in heavy ground, but he’s a quick three-miler and the Ryanair should suit him down to the ground.
“You have to get three miles to win a Ryanair so hopefully that will be the race. Otherwise we have the Cross Country. But I would say it would be the Ryanair.”
Gigginstown went into the Dublin Racing Festival with the favourites for the first two Grade Ones on day one and although neither Predators Gold or Storm Heart came home with the first prize, they both left with their reputations intact by finishing second.
Storm Heart will now head to the Triumph Hurdle where he is a best price of 12-1, while O’Leary believes his Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Predators Gold may drop back in distance slightly for the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park next month.
“They are both entitled to go on the next day and see what happens,” said O’Leary.
“Storm Heart will go on to the Triumph all being well.
“I imagine Predators Gold didn’t quite settle well enough to get that trip and he’ll likely go for the Baring Bingham over two and a half.”
Dual Champion Hurdle hero Hardy Eustace has died at the age of 27.
The hugely popular gelding was trained by the late Dessie Hughes to win 14 times in a 48-race career, including a trio of Cheltenham Festival victories.
Having landed the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park in 2003 under Kieran Kelly, he returned 12 months later to make all in the Champion Hurdle at 33-1, partnered by Conor O’Dwyer.
Hardy Eustace was a 7-2 joint-favourite for the same race in 2005 when showing tremendous battling qualities to get the better of Harchibald and Brave Inca in one of the most memorable Champion Hurdles of recent times.
He was retired from racing in 2009 and had been at the Irish National Stud since 2015.
Hardy Eustace’s owner, Lar Byrne, said: “It’s a very sad day to announce the passing of the legend Hardy Eustace.
“Hardy gave us so many special days out and will forever be remembered as a once in a lifetime horse for all the Byrne family.
“Hardy made us many special friends over his racing career and retirement. Thanks for all the great memories Hardy.”
Sandra Hughes, daughter of Dessie, stated: “Hardy was a horse of a lifetime for my dad. He was a beautiful horse with a huge heart who loved racing. We will cherish the memories.”
O’Dwyer added: “I am very sad to hear the sad news of his passing, but he had a wonderful life and wonderful retirement. He was a huge part of my career and it was an honour to be associated with him.”
Irish National Stud CEO Cathal Beale commented: “That era of Irish two-mile hurdlers; Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, Harchibald, Macs Joy and others lives long in the memory and coincided with an upturn in Irish fortunes at Cheltenham that we still see today.
“He was a lovely, gentle horse who lived out his days receiving the greatest of care from all the team here. He will be deeply missed by everyone at the Irish National Stud.”
Keagan Kirkby, a point-to-point rider and highly valued member of the Paul Nicholls team at Ditcheat, has died following a fall at Charing point-to-point on Sunday.
The Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) said the 25-year-old was riding at the meeting in Kent when his horse ran through the wing of a fence in the final race of the day.
A statement from the IJF read: “It is with deep sadness that we have to report that West Country point-to-point rider, Keagan Kirkby, 25, has died following a fall at Charing point-to-point in Kent today.
“His horse, trained locally, ran out through the wing of a fence on the second circuit of the final race. The on-course medical team attended immediately and despite additional support from a 999 Helicopter Emergency Services crew, he could not be saved.
“Keagan was a respected member of the Paul Nicholls team, who joined in 2019 and who had been awarded employee of the month in December 2021. He was shortlisted for the 2024 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards in the Rider/Groom category.
“We kindly ask that everyone respects the privacy of Keagan’s family and the team at Paul Nicholls Racing at this tragic time.”
Paying tribute on his X (formerly Twitter) account, champion trainer Nicholls said: “Life is so hard sometimes, winners totally insignificant compared to what has happened today.
“Sadly Keagan Kirby, one of our best, hardworking lads, lost his life today riding in a point-to-point. All at team Ditcheat are mortified. Thoughts with all his friends and family.”
He added: “He was passionate about his job and his riding and rode Afadil every day. Last thing he said to me on Friday was ‘boss Afadil will win tomorrow’ (at Musselburgh). How right he was.
“RIP Keag we will all miss you terribly.”
Julie Harrington, chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, said in a statement: “We are devastated to hear the tragic news regarding the fatal injuries sustained by Keagan Kirkby.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and everyone at the yard of Paul Nicholls. The entire racing industry will be in mourning at the loss of someone so young and with such potential.
“The esteem in which he was held is clear from the fact that he was nominated for the Rider/Groom category of the 2024 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, and made it through to the final 10 in his category. The nomination spoke of Keagan’s qualities as a thoughtful rider who develops a personal bond with his horses, understands their characters and adapts his riding accordingly, as well as his affable, helpful nature and popularity on the yard.
“We call on everyone to respect the privacy of Keagan’s family and the Paul Nicholls yard.”
In a dazzling display of speed and composure under pressure, Jamaica's Shashalee Forbes claimed victory in the 60m dash at the ISTAF Indoor Meeting in Dusseldorf, Germany on Sunday, continuing her stellar early-season form.
Forbes, the world championships relay silver medalist from Budapest in 2023, has been a dominant force over 60m this season, consistently proving herself as the fastest Jamaican in various conditions. Earlier in the season, she clocked 7.03 outdoors at the Queens/Grace Jackson Invitational on January 27 on the back of a strong performance of 7.14 at the Central Hurdles, Relays, and Field Events meeting a week earlier.
On Sunday, Forbes elevated her performance to new heights, setting a personal best of 7.11 in the 60m dash. N'Ketia Seedo of the Netherlands trailed in her wake with a commendable 7.15, achieving a personal best in a race in which the top four participants all recorded lifetime best performances. Germany's Alexandra Burghardt secured the final podium spot with a time of 7.20.
Expressing her excitement after the remarkable victory, Forbes revealed her eagerness for upcoming challenges. "I feel pretty great about this victory, and I am just looking for a next PB, a next run. But so far, I feel really good about this. This time, 7.11s, means a lot to me, my first time doing all this this season," she remarked.
Forbes isn't slowing down, with two more meetings lined up in Poland and New York. "I am not staying in Europe for indoors, but you guys should watch me there," she teased.
The consistent success she has enjoyed this season fuels Forbes' anticipation for the World Indoor Championships in Scotland next month. Forbes sees this event as a crucial step toward her ultimate goal of representing Jamaica at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.
"Glasgow is on my roadmap. Every championship is always on my roadmap; it is another opportunity to be great. And it is also a preparation for Paris. I really hope to get the chance to represent my country in Paris," she expressed, highlighting the significance of the upcoming competitions on her calendar.
Jamaica's Christania Williams, on her comeback trail, secured the fifth position with a time of 7.30 in the intense competition.
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham was booed and angry fans chanted for a refund after Lionel Messi did not play in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong.
Messi, who has been suffering with a hamstring injury, was left on the bench as his side beat a Hong Kong XI 4-1.
In footage posted on social media, fans could be heard chanting “refund” before a post-match speech from Beckham was greeted with boos.
The Hong Kong government said match organisers Tatler Asia could face a reduction in funding.
“The Government today expressed deep disappointment over Messi not playing at Tatler XFEST Hong Kong, Hong Kong Team vs Inter Miami CF, and the organiser failing to provide a detailed explanation promptly,” the government said in a statement.
“The event has been awarded “M” Mark status, as well as a matching grant of 15 million [Hong Kong dollars; £1.5m] and a grant for venue of 1 million by The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC).
“The Government has also provided a variety of coordination and assistance, including venue arrangement and crowd management, in order to offer football fans a wonderful game and an opportunity to witness the world-class player showcasing his skills.
“Many Hong Kong fans looked forward to the match with enthusiasm, and a lot of tourists came to Hong Kong particularly for the match.
“The Government, as well as all football fans, are extremely disappointed that Messi could neither play in the friendly match, nor explain to the fans in person upon request.
“The way that the organiser and Inter Miami CF handled the situation could not meet the expectations of the fans who showed strong support to Messi, especially those visitors who came all the way here for the match.
“The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the MSEC will rely on the terms and conditions of the agreement in requiring the organiser to take responsibility, including a reduction of the amount of funding as a result of Messi being not able to play in the match.”
Henry de Bromhead is inclined to look towards Aintree rather than Cheltenham with Bob Olinger following his excellent effort in defeat behind State Man in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle.
The high-class nine-year-old has thrived for a return to the smaller obstacles, winning the Lismullen Hurdle in November before following up in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
The Irish Champion represented a much sterner test and also a drop in distance to two miles, but the popular gelding acquitted himself with real credit under Rachael Blackmore, with only arguably the best hurdler outside of Constitution Hill being too good.
Owned by Brian Acheson under his Robcour banner, Bob Olinger is twice a Cheltenham Festival winner, landing the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle in 2021 and adding the Turners Novices’ Chase 12 months later.
“We were delighted with how he ran,” said De Bromhead.
“I had a little dream for a second when he looked up turning in, but State Man is such a good horse.
“I’d say we’ll aim for Aintree now with him.”
Willie Mullins reflected on a weekend of “fantasy horse racing” at the Dublin Racing Festival after securing all eight Grade Ones prizes up for grabs across the two-day fixture for the first time.
The Closutton handler has dominated the high-profile meeting since its inception in 2018, although he had hitherto not quite found the correct combination to mop up all the top-level prizes in the same year.
But having once again sent an army of equine superstars to Leopardstown, Mullins completed a Grade One clean sweep, at odds of nearly 6,505-1 – an achievement the all-conquering champion trainer insisted he does not take for granted.
He said: “It’s been a superb weekend. You see the team in action this weekend and I’m delighted for them, I’m delighted for my owners and my staff, it’s terrific.
“It’s extraordinary, we know that. Everything has come together – we have tremendous owners who invest in Irish racing and they love it.
“It’s tremendous to have people from abroad bringing money like that into Irish racing and we’re the beneficiaries – we’re very lucky.”
Galopin Des Champs starred in the trainer’s Saturday four-timer as he defended his crown in the Irish Gold Cup, ensuring he will be a short price to do the same in the Cheltenham Gold Cup next month.
It is further evidence of the huge strength in depth that Mullins has at his disposal that he won the other three Grade One races on the first day with apparent second, third and even fourth strings.
The champion trainer’s nephew Danny Mullins enjoyed a treble, getting off to a flying start aboard rank outsider Dancing City in the curtain-raising Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle before landing the Spring Juvenile Hurdle and the Irish Arkle on Kargese and Il Etait Temps respectively.
On Sunday the results were a little more predictable, with State Man making it back-to-back wins in the Irish Champion Hurdle, Ballyburn justifying odds-on favouritism in the Tattersalls Ireland 50th Derby Sale Novice Hurdle and El Fabiolo cementing his status as Queen Mother Champion Chase favourite with a clear-cut win in the Dublin Chase.
The only minor upset among the four Mullins winners on day two was Fact To File’s defeat of better-fancied stablemate Gaelic Warrior in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase, with the latter exiting when well held at the final fence.
Mullins added: “You can’t get much better – it’s fantasy horse racing, isn’t it?
“We bring the horses here and as you saw a lot of our second strings won yesterday, it was amazing and Danny had a tremendous day.
“They’re all coming here on their merits for different owners and may the best one win on the day. You don’t know what will happen, look at Gaelic Warrior today – he was many people’s banker for the weekend and was a complete blowout. It’s not simple.”
Much has been made of Mullins’ increasing dominance on the National Hunt scene, with the fact he saddled the only two runners to go to post in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase clearly disappointing.
“It’s unfortunate,” he admitted. “Grangeclare West wasn’t right this morning and we withdrew him, I never dreamt (Gordon Elliott’s) American Mike would come out, I don’t know what happened there.
“It is unfortunate, but we run everything we can anyway. We just aim for these festivals and hope that ours turn up and as you see, they don’t all turn up.
“Yesterday we had a couple of favourites beaten, it’s racing and that’s why you have to come to the races and find out. If I was punting, I’d be losing my tonsils I’d say!”
A rematch with the mighty Constitution Hill looms large for State Man following a comfortable defence of his Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle crown at Leopardstown.
Since falling on his first start for Willie Mullins at this track in December 2021, State Man has been the dominant force in the division in Ireland, winning nine of his next 10 outings.
His only defeat during that period came at the hands of Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill, who proved nine lengths too strong in the Champion Hurdle at last season’s Cheltenham Festival.
And while State Man clearly has his work cut out to turn the tables in the Cotswolds next month, he confirmed his status as the reigning champion’s biggest threat with an eighth Grade One victory under Paul Townend.
Having been unable to reel in his stablemate in the Matheson Hurdle in December, Impaire Et Passe this time set out to make all the running under Daryl Jacob, with State Man (2-5 favourite) his nearest pursuer.
State Man took over travelling strongly before the home turn and was always doing enough in the straight to keep a resurgent Bob Olinger at bay, with five and a half lengths separating the pair at the line.
Coral left the winner unchanged at 3-1 for the Champion Hurdle, with Constitution Hill their 1-5 favourite.
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