'He’s a star, isn’t he? I love riding him' - Paul Townend thrilled as State Man seals tenth Grade 1

When should we start giving State Man some proper recognition? Maybe now, after he put the finishing touches to a flawless Champion Hurdle-winning campaign and added a tenth Grade 1 to a glittering career. Or does he still have to wait a little longer to feel the love, until he clashes with Constitution Hill again some day down the line? 

Whether you think he deserves superstar status or not, the one thing that can't be debated is State Man's reliability, and that ability to turn up every day and do whatever is required to get the job done is a rare commodity in jumps racing. He never lets you down. 

There was a length and a quarter between Irish Point and State Man in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and he widened that to two lengths here, despite his main market rival dictating everything from the front and making him pull out all the stops. 

There was a fleeting moment early in the home straight when Irish Point threatened to put State Man in deep trouble, but that didn't last long as Paul Townend looked to have matters under control 100 yards from the last. He pinged the final flight and edged clear for a reasonably emphatic success, with 20 lengths back to the third Colonel Mustard.

Willie Mullins breathed a huge sigh of relief after Mister Policeman and Allegorie De Vassy had badly underperformed earlier on the card. 

The champion trainer of State Man: "He's Mr Reliable. A few of ours had been disappointing earlier in the day so I was worried going into the race. Then, we were wondering what tactics Jack [Kennedy] might use. The game went the way we thought it would go. State Man just did what he normally does, he pulled it out when he needed to. 

"He's a dream to train, very uncomplicated. He's an old pet. He's lovely. We knew Irish Point would be a fair test and that he would turn it into a fair test. Paul just said he was going to ride him like the best horse and forget about everything else and that's what he did."

On plans for next season, he said: "He'll stay hurdling now, that's his career. He's come a long way. He's very easy to do anything with, just a lovely horse."

Willie Mullins: enjoyed another record-breaking day at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann

Townend has always had a soft spot for State Man and it will be even softer after this, as he kept him in contention in the jockeys' title race.

The winning jockey said: "He’s a star, isn’t he? I love riding him because he’s so simple, and I still couldn’t wait long enough on him. But that’s the feeling he gives you. He actually has plenty in there. 

"It’s so simple to ride this lad, and that’s probably why I have such a soft spot for him. You could leave the weighing room, get to the start, make it up as you go along, and he’d get you out of trouble. He isn’t flashy. He does what he has to do and, probably, that’s why he keeps winning – because he keeps a bit in the locker."

Gordon Elliott heaped praise on Irish Point for the part he played in the race and said the runner-up might even head over fences next season. 

He said: "He's run a blinder and never missed a beat. We've no excuses and I'm proud of him. I don't know what we'll do with him next season, maybe we'll head over fences, you never know."

State Man is staying hurdling, though, and what a hurdler he is. It's about time we gave him the credit he deserves.

Read more . . .

Willie Mullins becomes the winningmost Irish trainer after Ballyburn lands Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle 

'She was foot perfect' - delighted Gavin Cromwell hails Brides Hill at end of unbeaten season 

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