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State Man strode to decisive victory over the gallant Honeysuckle in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.
The 6-5 favorite after five successive wins over hurdles so far, the Willie Mullins-trained chestnut heads the field under Paul Townend.
Honeysuckle ran in a slipstream until the closing stages, where he was unable to keep up as State Man turned off the turn and pulled away to cross the line four and three-quarters ahead.
State Man wins the Irish Champion Hurdle
“Paul was surprised when he came to the parade ring and I asked him what he was going to do and he said he was going to make it,” Mullins said.
“He didn’t see much he could do in the race, so I said ‘OK, do it. It’s a bit idle at the front too.
“They do everything right and you can’t ask any more.”
When asked about his improvement in jumping, he added: “A lot of people forget that he won the County Hurdle and you don’t win with a bad jump.
“At Punchestown, it can be a slow race and when it’s slow he just needs time.
“When he has to be sharp, he can jump fast. He jumps like a Champion Hurdler, I think, all down the back.
“Paulus asks some great questions and he comes through every time. I’m very happy.
“It’s great to have a horse like him and fingers crossed he stays right.”
Just behind Honeysuckle in third was champion stablemate Vauban, and Mullins added: “I was really pleased with how Vauban finished the race.
“He made a mistake at the start and he was a bit dizzy before the race in the parade ring and didn’t like it at all. He is still learning and will improve. Maybe next year before he will be the horse we think he is.”
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