Constitution Hill and Honeysuckle's top threat? State Man set for Morgiana test

Sunday: 2.05 Punchestown
Unibet Morgiana Hurdle (In Memory Of Michael Rafferty @AnaglogsDaughtr) (Grade 1) | 2m½f | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTE1/RTV

This race has provided the launchpad to Champion Hurdle-winning campaigns for Brave Inca and Hurricane Fly. State Man – according to the market – is the likeliest candidate to follow the same path from this year's Morgiana Hurdle.

Just five go to post for Ireland's opening Grade 1 hurdle of the season, but it still presents an opportunity for us to learn more about the depth of Ireland's two-mile hurdling scene beyond the immaculate Honeysuckle.

Official ratings suggest two-time Morgiana winner Sharjah (rated 162) is the one to beat, but State Man (159) has greater potential to improve given he has only made five starts in his career compared to Sharjah's 23 in this sphere.

Sharjah: got the better of Zanahiyr to win last season's Unibet Morgiana HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

However, this should be the toughest test State Man has ever faced, and he will need to pass it with flying colours in order to be considered a genuine threat to Honeysuckle and Constitution Hill.

He did win last season's County Hurdle in stylish fashion but that came off an attractive mark of 141. The Willie Mullins-trained Saint Roi won the same race off 137 in 2020 before being touched off in the following season's Morgiana – he is a mid-150s hurdler but not top notch.

To his credit, State Man has already achieved something that his stablemate never did, winning a Grade 1 at the Punchestown festival in novice company on his most recent start. A ready success at this course over Flame Bearer, Three Stripe Life and Kilcruit confirmed he is a potentially first-class operator.

Sharjah, one of three in the race for Mullins, should not be underestimated, though. He hasn't been sighted since winning a record-equalling fourth Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown last Christmas and now attempts to join Limestone Lad and Hurricane Fly in becoming the only three-time Morgiana winners of the modern era.

Teahupoo: ran out an 11-length winner of last season's Red Mills Trial Hurdle

Patrick Mullins' old ally – a six-time Grade 1 winner – has won on his last two seasonal reappearances and should find any chinks in his younger stablemate's armour.

Saldier won the Morgiana in 2019 but his form in Grade 1 events since reads 66785P. Danny Mullins seems to get a tune out of him but an upset win appears unlikely.

Jesse Evans is likely to be outclassed with a rating of 147, while Teahupoo rates the biggest threat to the top two if he bounces back to the form that saw him bolt up in last season's Red Mills Trial Hurdle.

Sharjah 'a brilliant yardstick' to gauge State Man's Champion credentials

Paul Townend believes the challenge posed by dual Morgiana winner Sharjah should provide connections with an accurate gauge of how high Champion Hurdle hope State Man can fly this season.

Joe and Marie Donnelly's five-year-old – four years younger than Sharjah – enters Sunday's assignment priced between 7-1 and 10-1 for this season's Unibet Champion Hurdle.

State Man: impressive when beating Flame Bearer, Three Stripe Life and Kilcruit at the Punchestown festivalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Sharjah sets the standard without Honeysuckle in the two-mile division in Ireland so he will be a brilliant yardstick and we will see where we're going," said Townend.

"I am really looking forward to getting back on State Man. He finished out last season really well – his only blip was a fall at Christmas. I think he's improving and we'll find out more about the level he is at here."

Speaking in his Ladbrokes-sponsored blog, Townend added: "He's entitled to improve for his first run but I will be hoping he can get off to a winning start and pursue a route to the Champion Hurdle."

What they say

Noel Meade, trainer of Jesse Evans
Hopefully this will tell us where we are with him. I know Willie has all the aces but we're going to have a go.

Saldier: three of his top four Racing Post Ratings have come when ridden by Danny Mullins from just four occasions teaming upCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Danny Mullins, rider of Saldier
He looked to have lost his way somewhat last season but he likes Punchestown and we know this is a race that suits him. In his younger days he seemed to have the potential to develop into a Champion Hurdle horse. Maybe the time he missed out on robbed him of that but hopefully he's still got a bit of spark in him.

Patrick Mullins, rider of Sharjah
All of our horses come on for their runs in November but he's won this race twice before and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he could win it for a third time. To me, he's the one to beat. In the last few years, Honeysuckle is the only hurdler who has been able to beat him when he's on song. I rode him in a schooling hurdle at Thurles last week and he went very well.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Teahupoo
He'd always worked like a nice horse so, when he won his first three races last season, we decided to let him have a crack at the Champion Hurdle, but he was well beaten. We learnt plenty about him last season, most of all that he needs cut in the ground to be at his best. The softer the ground the better he will be. He's in good form and we're looking forward to getting him started back.

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