It’s the feature race of the day on day four of the Punchestown Festival and State Man is a hot favourite to win the 2024 Punchestown Champion Hurdle. Our man Steve Chambers previews the race and gives his 1-2-3 for what should be a potential romp for the Willie Mullins-trained star…
COLONEL MUSTARD
(Lorna Fowler/J J Slevin)
Last seen winning a Galway maiden hurdle back in October 2021, Colonel Mustard has been a real model of consistency in recent times in some top notch races, but has always found a few too good. Third to State Man in the 2022 County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, Lorna Fowler’s nine-year-old has since stepped up to Graded company to try and claim a big prize.
However, he continues to struggle at the highest level and was last seen finishing fifth in the Champion Hurdle behind State Man yet again. But, he’s earned some nice prize money in that time when competing at the highest level and he’s a big price to land this event on Friday, but will yet again pick up a decent pot regardless of where he finishes.
IRISH POINT
(Jack Kennedy/Gordon Elliott)
A really smart novice hurdler, Irish Point has progressed into one of the premier hurdlers in the all-age division this season and Gordon Elliott’s seven-year-old is likely to be the biggest thorn in the side of State Man on Friday. A stunning 11-length winner of the Christmas Hurdle over 2m 7f 80y at Leopardstown in December, Irish Point dropped back in trip to two miles for the Champion Hurdle and was second to State Man at Cheltenham.
You could argue he could make waves in the 3m sphere, but stablemate Teahupoo dominates at present, so Elliott has the advantage of dropping Irish Point down to two miles and he’s shown to be equally class at that distance. With stamina his best suit then he could well look to try and take the sting out of State Man, but he needs a career best here.
SIR GERHARD
(Danny Mullins/Willie Mullins)
A winner of the 2021 Champion Bumper, Sir Gerhard then went on to claim the 2022 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle crown at the Cheltenham Festival, but since then he’s often struggled to deliver on the biggest stage and has arguably be one of the disappointments of the Willie Mullins yard over the last couple of seasons.
He tried the chasing sphere, but disappointed, while he got back to winning ways at prohibitive odds at Cork two starts ago, but was well beaten in the Select Hurdle at Sandown last weekend. Last in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham as well recently, Sir Gerhard drops back to two miles and he will need to find his best form to play any sort of part.
STATE MAN
(Paul Townend/Willie Mullins)
Eleven wins from his last 12 runs, State Man has been one of the stars of the National Hunt sphere in recent years and he aims to retain his Punchestown Champion Hurdle title on day four of the meeting. The only defeat in that time came against Constitution Hill in the 2023 Champion Hurdle, but with Nicky Henderson’s star out for the season he was able to go one better in this year’s Champion Hurdle by storming to victory over Irish Point in March.
Four wins from four starts this season, State Man has eased past all his rivals this campaign and he was at his brilliant best when claiming the Champion Hurdle crown a few weeks ago. A winner of this race last season, State Man is a hot favourite to retain his title and he looks a very tough nut to crack here if he can yet again deliver the goods.
VERDICT
It’s a disappointing turnout for the 2024 Punchestown Champion Hurdle and it’s one of those races that has little intrigue and the betting should show how the race will finish. STATE MAN is the dominant hurdler with Constitution Hill on the sidelines and he should have too much quality for Irish Point, who is ultimately running over too short a trip. Sir Gerhard and Colonel Mustard are not up to the class of their two adversaries and will be fighting it out for the bronze medal and Sir Gerhard should secure that berth.
- State Man
- Irish Point
- Sir Gerhard
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