Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
THERE was an overriding sense of ‘what if’ as State Man (5/4) crossed the line in the Irish Champion Hurdle, recording his third consecutive win in Sunday’s feature. Crowds of racing fans had been expecting a humdinger of a match between Paul Townend’s mount and stablemate Lossiemouth (8/11 favourite), only for the favourite and Danny Mullins to crash out at the sixth flight.
State Man has never done more than necessary in a finish and there was nothing ‘wow’ about the way he approached the last but, more importantly, he got over safely and went on to win by six and a half lengths.
Daddy Long Legs (40/1) kept on to complete a 1-2 for owner Mrs Donnelly, while Winter Fog finished a further nine lengths back in a 1-2-3 for Willie Mullins.
The champion trainer later said what most were thinking: “It was setting up to be one hell of a race. It’s disappointing for Rich [Ricci], it’s disappointing for the public, it’s disappointing for all us not to see what the final outcome was.”
“I was very, very lucky not to be brought down,” Paul Townend reflected. “It was going to be a match but a positive to take out of it until then was we were going the gallop no bother today. He felt better in himself today.
“We don’t know what would have happened, but take nothing away from him. He can only do what he does. To tell you the truth, the last was looking very big for such a good jumper – I had way too much time to think.”
Townend had remained loyal to State Man following a disappointing run behind the hugely impressive Brighterdaysahead over Christmas, and after their 15th consecutive race together, the rider confirmed the chesnut was back to his best.
“I don’t know what the times were saying, what speeds we were doing compared to Christmas around, but he felt better in himself today.”
Jody’s time to shine
Paul Townend landed five Grade 1s across the weekend, but it was the turn of his sister Jody Townend to take the spotlight in the finale, as Bambino Fever (9/1) impressed in the Grade 2 Coolmore N.H. Sires Luxembourg Irish EBF Mares Bumper.
The eye was drawn to the strong-travelling Switch From Diesel on the outer under Ray Barron approaching the turn for home, as Townend urged the Willie Mullins-trained mare behind them. The eventual winner produced an impressive turn of foot to pass that rival before the final furlong and ran on well to score by seven and a half lengths, with another six lengths back to Carrigmoornaspruce in third.
Seventh success
Following his seventh success of the weekend, Mullins said: “That was tremendous improvement from Bambino Fever. She surprised me the first day and she’s surprised me again today.
“Jody got her lovely and settled in at the back and Jukebox Jury must be some sire. I’m absolutely delighted with her, and I’d imagine that looks good enough to me to go to Cheltenham.”
Bookmakers agreed with Mullins, with Paddy Power shortening the O’Connell Morgan Syndicate-owned mare to 6/1 for the Champion Bumper.
Jody Townend had come within a length and a half of riding a winner the previous day, when Willie Mullins’ apparent second string Sortudo finished second in the Grade 2 equivalent for geldings.