'We didn't complicate it and he won easy' - State Man cut for Supreme Novices'

Tuesday: Limerick

State Man, an unlucky faller at Leopardstown over Christmas, set the record straight with an impressive success in the 2m maiden hurdle, a performance which saw his price for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle cut to 16-1 (from 20) by Paddy Power.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins gave opportunities to a few riders on the card who would normally not get them, and it was Richie Deegan who came in aboard the 1-7 shot.

Deegan said afterwards that Mullins told him to keep it simple, and he rode a confident race from the front. His mount picked up well to go clear early in the straight, and quickened again on the run from the last after runner-up Plains Indian looked very briefly like making a race of it. The dozen-length margin of victory did not really flatter him.

Deegan said: "We didn't complicate it and he won easy. He's a lovely type of horse, as good as anything I would be riding anyway! He has loads of boot. He just got a little bit idle around the top bend, but when I gave him a kick in the belly he quickened away down the straight."

Paddy Power also cut State Man to 16-1 (from 25) for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

Callaghan takes advantage

Conditional rider Kieran Callaghan got off the mark over hurdles when successful on the Mullins-trained Mi Lighthouse in the mares' maiden, a race which changed complexion at two out.

The Closutton-trained favourite La Prima Donna had gone out to try to make all under Jack Foley, but the winner had closed up and was upsides when the market leader stumbled and fell a few strides after the second-last, leaving stablemate Mi Lighthouse clear to score unchallenged in the end by 14 lengths.

A beaming Kieran Callaghan with Mi Lighthouse following their victory in the mares' maiden hurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

For Callaghan, based with Mullins, it was his second winner on the track having won a bumper for Barry Fitzgerald at Gowran Park back in March.

"I was delighted to get the ride," Callaghan said. "The mare travelled everywhere for me, jumped well and loved the ground. I was coming to Willie's other mare at the second-last. I felt I was going well beside her, it would have turned into a good battle and I would have been happy to take on the other mare."

He added: "I'm been full time with Willie for about two and a half years, but I only turned conditional about three weeks ago. It was a lovely opportunity to get."

Feeney off the mark

It was also a red-letter day for amateur Adam Feeney, 22, based at Ballyduff near Fermoy, as he partnered his first winner under rules when the John Murphy-trained Black Bamboo just prevailed in the bumper, winning by a head from Alpesh Amin. Feeney has also ridden three winners in point-to-points.

Murphy has some high hopes for the son of Fame And Glory. The trainer's son and assistant George said: "He'll come on a lot for that, and we'll definitely think of an entry in the Cheltenham bumper – we think he's a very good horse."

Results, replays and analysis

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