Join us at Punchestown this Saturday for a thrilling start to the National Hunt season, featuring a high-stakes showdown between top talents State Man and Lossiemouth, alongside promising newcomer Ballyburn's chase debut.
This Saturday at Punchestown marks the beginning of one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the National Hunt calendar, with Willie Mullins set to showcase a number of his stable stars. The highlight of the day will be the much-anticipated showdown between State Man and Lossiemouth in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle, while the promising Ballyburn is ready to make his debut in chasing. It's an afternoon that promises to be rich in excitement and suspense, as Mullins aims to reestablish his dominance in the sport.
It's difficult to emphasize just how impeccable State Man was during the previous season. This seven-year-old Irish-bred gelding showcased exceptional form, effortlessly defending his Morgiana title before securing consecutive victories in both the Matheson Hurdle and the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. These triumphs positioned State Man as a formidable contender in the 2-mile category, leading to no surprise when he later claimed a convincing victory in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, a win that solidified his status among the sport’s elite.
Although State Man benefited from Constitution Hill's absence, he made the most of the opportunity by enhancing his performance from Cheltenham and securing the Champion Hurdle title. He concluded a remarkable season with a second consecutive victory in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle, demonstrating both tenacity and consistency on the grandest of stages.
On Saturday, State Man will encounter a new and challenging opponent in the form of his stablemate Lossiemouth, who has rapidly earned a reputation as one of the promising talents from Mullins' stable. Lossiemouth remains unbeaten in her last three races and boasts an impressive record of eight victories from nine outings over hurdles. Her inclusion in the Morgiana lineup adds to the excitement, as this race now features a showdown between two of Mullins' top horses.
With the reliable Paul Townend riding State Man and Patrick Mullins on board Lossiemouth, this race is set to be a tactical contest of the highest caliber. In the betting odds, both Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill are listed at 5/2 for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next March, while State Man follows closely at 3/1. The outcome of this weekend's race will significantly influence the rankings for the upcoming season.
Willie Mullins has a strong presence in the Morgiana, fielding five runners that make up a significant portion of the participants. Alongside State Man and Lossiemouth, his team includes Daddy Long Legs, Sir Gerhard, and Winter Fog, all representing Mullins' esteemed stable. With such a formidable lineup, it’s evident that Mullins is aiming for a clean sweep of the competition. However, the greatest threat to his Closutton quintet could come from Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead, an excellent mare who is in racing shape after a recent victory at Down Royal.
Brighterdaysahead's performance indicates that she is well-prepared to challenge the top competitors from Mullins' team, and Elliott's competitive nature will make her a formidable opponent. The remaining contenders include Smooth Tom, trained by Andrew Slattery, and No Looking Back, trained by Oliver McKiernan, both of whom will have a tough task ahead in competing against the frontrunners in this race.
As State Man and Lossiemouth take the spotlight in the Morgiana, Ballyburn’s career takes a thrilling turn with the Conway Piling Beginners Chase. The six-year-old was previously touted as a potential Champion Hurdle contender after an impressive novice season, highlighted by a remarkable trio of Grade One wins at Leopardstown, Cheltenham, and Punchestown. However, instead of continuing his hurdles route, Ballyburn will now transition to chasing, making the shift to larger fences one of the most eagerly anticipated changes of the season.
After experiencing a setback during his first hurdling attempt at Fairyhouse last December, Ballyburn made a swift recovery, securing four straight wins, including three notable Grade One victories. This weekend, he will step into the chase arena as the clear favourite to smoothly transition to this new challenge, with many anticipating a display of his skills over fences in County Kildare. The excitement surrounding his debut is intense, as the racing community eagerly observes whether Ballyburn can adapt to this discipline as successfully as he did during his time in hurdles.
In the Grade Two Boodles Florida Pearl Novice Chase, Gordon Elliott is once again in the spotlight with three horses, all owned by Gigginstown House Stud. Stellar Story, who recently triumphed at the Cheltenham Festival, has been selected by the stable's jockey Jack Kennedy. He will be challenged by Rainbow Trail, ridden by Jody McGarvey, and Search For Glory, ridden by Sam Ewing.
With just three competitors in the race, this event is set to offer clear indications of the potential among these skilled chasers. The choice made by Kennedy to ride Stellar Story will be under close observation, particularly considering the quality of his fellow competitors from the same stable.
