'He's just class, isn't he?' - Paul Townend thrilled as State Man proves himself to be the ultimate pro once again

A pure and utter professional; State Man did what State Man does. He gallops, jumps and quickens. He might not do any of those things better than Constitution Hill but he does them a hell of a lot better than most horses in training and this was yet another reminder of not only how good he is, but of just how talented his Champion Hurdle conqueror must be. 

This was a penalty kick for State Man, but Paul Townend celebrated more than he usually does when the 1-6 shot obliged. "He's just class, isn't he?" Townend said in the immediate aftermath. Class is one word for him and Betfair and Paddy Power cut him into 6-1 (from 7) for the Unibet Champion Hurdle after this five-length stroll. 

Echoes In Rain was best of the rest as Cesarewitch runner-up Pied Piper did not jump as well as he can and faded into third having sneaked up the inside of stablemate Fils D'Oudairies on the home turn, but there was never a moment when State Man looked anything but in complete control. 

Townend added: "I just love riding him, he's so straightforward. Some horses you get a thing for, and he's one of them. You can do what you want with him. It's a pleasure to be able to go down to the start with him and know that you can make it up as you go along. He switches on whenever you want him to in a race.

""He felt brilliant out there today, really good.  When it got competitive he was there for me in an instant. I had a peek leaving the back straight and I had a fair idea what was coming [Pied Piper getting up the inside]."

The obvious next question concerned Constitution Hill and how State Man can get any closer to him in March.

Paul Townend: "I just love riding him, he's so straightforward"Credit: Patrick McCann

Townend replied: "Maybe I'm making excuses but I thought we underperformed against him last year. Throughout the race I wasn't getting the feel that I was going to beat Constitution Hill and I thought I would for a little while. We'll have another go."

State Man will need to find improvement from somewhere. He has nine lengths to find with Constitution Hill but he is now a dual Morgiana winner and this was his sixth Grade 1. He is a real pro and Mullins feels there might be even more to come from him. 

The trainer said: "Paul was much happier getting down off him this year than he was last year so maybe there is a bit of improvement there for this season. I thought he’d won turning for home and I was surprised when there was a bit of a shemozzle and I got a bit of a fright for a couple of seconds, but was happy enough then."

It is over to Impaire Et Passe now. The brilliant Ballymore winner will have his first outing in open company in next Sunday's Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse over two and a half miles. 

Mullins said: "Impaire Et Passe will go to Fairyhouse next weekend and we’ll try to keep the two of them apart for as long as we can. They all have to get there in March so we’ll concentrate on the domestic scene for the moment."

Danny Mullins gave chase up the straight on Echoes In Rain, but never looked like landing a blow. He said: "She travelled well. She's a genuine mare and ran to her rating. The winner is very good and bar Constitution Hill, he's a superstar."

Gordon Elliott, who had a four-timer on the card, felt Pied Piper wasn't at his best. He said: "He didn't jump as well as he can and Jack [Kennedy] said he was hanging. We'll get him checked out and see how he is."

It may not have been a top-class Morgiana, but the winner is very, very good. State Man is the ultimate professional.

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