State Man v Sharjah v Vauban - who comes out on top in a magic Matheson?

Thursday: 2.20 Leopardstown
Matheson Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTE2/RTV

Istabraq and Hurricane Fly are two of the greatest hurdlers of all time but victory for Sharjah would see him surpass them both as he would become the first five-time winner of the Matheson Hurdle.

Istabraq won it four times between 1997 and 2001, while Hurricane Fly did likewise in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Sharjah has already done something neither of those did by winning four in a row but adding number five to that sequence is not going to be straightforward.

The Willie Mullins star was odds-on last year when he edged out Zanahiyr late on to win by a neck but he was 11-2, 9-2 and 6-1 for his three previous wins and you could argue he continues to be one of the most underappreciated hurdlers of the modern era.

He is a six-time Grade 1 winner, has been runner-up to Honeysuckle in two Champion Hurdles and he adores Leopardstown so you can understand why punters might be thinking he is too big in the market.

Nobody knows Sharjah better than Patrick Mullins, the most successful amateur of all time who has been on board the son of Doctor Dino for all four of his Matheson wins as well as his famous Galway Hurdle success in 2018.

Sharjah and Patrick Mullins: the deadly duo in the Matheson HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

While acknowledging that it won't be easy to reverse a four-length defeat to State Man in the Morgiana at Punchestown last month, the jockey is convinced we didn't see the real Sharjah there and expects a much improved effort back at his happiest hunting ground.

He said: "Sharjah came out of Punchestown really well. I don't think he was at his best there so I expect him to improve on that. Obviously we're giving State Man four years which isn't easy but this is Sharjah's time of year and this is his track so hopefully we can turn the form around."

Townend: 'I loved what State Man did the last day, he will come on plenty too'

Paul Townend thinks State Man is his best ride of the day as the champion jockey bids to win the Matheson Hurdle for a third time.

You have to rewind to Unaccompanied in 2011 for his last victory in this particular Grade 1 and he also won it the year before with Hurricane Fly.

This time around he teams up with odds-on favourite State Man, last year's silky-smooth County Hurdle winner who took the step into open company in his stride when running out an emphatic winner of the Morgiana at Punchestown last month.

The outcome was never really in doubt there once he took it up after the second-last and he coasted to a four-length victory. It was a thoroughly professional performance from a five-year-old who is getting better with every start. He has now won his last four races and would probably be unbeaten for Mullins had he not crashed out at the second-last on his Irish debut in a maiden hurdle at this meeting last year.

With Honeysuckle potentially bypassing the Champion Hurdle for the Mares' Hurdle, State Man is now the biggest danger to Constitution Hill according to the market. He is priced between 4-1 and 6-1 for that, with most firms offering 5-1.

Townend said: "State Man was good in the Morgiana when beating Sharjah. This is Sharjah’s race, though, as he is so good around Leopardstown. Even allowing for that, hopefully we can get the better of him. I loved what State Man did the last day."

Writing in his Ladbrokes blog, Ireland's champion jockey added: "Vauban is an interesting one here and his form with Pied Piper ties in well with last year. On ratings I am happy to go with my horse and I think he will come on plenty from the Morgiana. I'll put him up as my best ride of the day."

Can last season's top juveniles step up to the mark?

The score is 1-1 between last season's top juvenile hurdlers Pied Piper and Vauban.

The pair first clashed in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown on New Year's Eve when Pied Piper ran out a narrow winner by half a length.

Pied Piper (left) and Vauban renew rivalry after meeting twice last season

Vauban got revenge on the day that mattered most, though, as he sprinted clear in the Triumph Hurdle to score by two and a half lengths from Fil Dor, with Pied Piper just a neck back in third.

It will be interesting to see how last season's crop of juveniles stack up against their elders and Gordon Elliott is expecting a big run from the hat-trick-seeking Pied Piper.

He said: "He got the job done well on his first two starts of the season, and he had some very good form as a juvenile hurdler. It wasn't ideal for him having to make the running at Down Royal last time as he can idle, but he ended up doing it nicely.

"This is a step up in class for him and it isn't always easy for four-year-olds taking on older horses but he's done nothing wrong this season. We're looking forward to seeing how he gets on."

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Sharjah, State Man, Vauban
State Man is a horse who pleases me all the time and we're looking forward to seeing him again. He improved nicely from the novice ranks to win the Morgiana but this is another step up for him and he probably has most to fear from stablemate Sharjah. He's in fine form, though, and I think he has improved since his run in Punchestown. Sharjah has won this race the last four years and seems to shine at Christmas on this track. This is his big day. Vauban is having his first outing of the season and because of a lack of other opportunities in January I'm letting him start out here. He will improve a lot for this race, and it will give us an idea of where he is at this time.

Read Thursday's previews:

1.10 Leopardstown: Mares' Hurdle runner-up Queens Brook out to book her festival ticket in style

1.45 Leopardstown: National Hunt Chase favourite Gaillard Du Mesnil the one to beat in Grade 1 test

2.40 Doncaster: can Gesskille make amends after twice finishing second over the National fences?

3.10 Doncaster: 'This is her season's target' - who's in hot pursuit of the £75,000 Silver Vase?

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