No Constitution Hill, no problem…
The Willie Mullins-trained State Man may have bumped into the freakish Constitution Hill in the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last month but seemingly had a much more straightforward task this time around.
State Man had won four-straight Grade 1's before that encounter at Cheltenham and was sent off a well-backed 2/5 to get back to winning ways.
Jockey Paul Townend was more than happy to allow the six-year-old to make his own running and in his usual uncomplicated fashion State Man popped around in front. Stablemate Vauban raced exuberantly and briefly threatened to challenge as the pair turned for home. However, Paul Townend's mount was still firmly on the bridle approaching the second last and quickly quickened clear for a comfortable three-length success. Vauban stuck to his task well to finish second while Colonel Mustard rallied well to grab third.
Speaking with Racing TV Jockey Paul Townend: "He has been beating these horses all year and, thankfully, he was able to do it again today.
As I said when I made it in Leopardstown, I thought he would be better with a lead and probably a bit the same there.
He just looks to be the best of that bunch – he just ran into a superstar in Cheltenham."
Trainer Willie Mullins added: "Paul said if nothing was going on he'd make his own running and keep it simple.
He just missed the last, but Paul said with where he would have had to stand off, he just let him fiddle it instead. That's what you want in a hurdler when they are too far back, to go in and fiddle it.
He's done enough for the season. We'll freshen him up now and get him back to do the same things next season, I hope.
I can't really see him going over fences, I'd say he'll be a hurdle horse. I don't know whether I need to go out in trip with him.
He's a horse that still has improvement in him."
Impaire Et Passe lands Champion Novice Hurdle
Willie Mullins' fantastic Punchestown Festival continued as Impaire Et Passe provided the Closutton-based trainer with yet another top-level success.
The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned gelding sat third for much of the contest but didn't always look to be travelling with as much fluency as one would expect. Stablemate Champ Kiely and the Joseph O'Brien-trained High Definition set the fractions out in front and Impaire Et Passe was left with plenty to do as they approached the second last.
Connections of High Definition must have been excited for a matter of strides as a potential upset looked on the cards. However, Paul Townend was quick to give his horse a remainder and he soon cruised upsides before sweeping clear for a comfortable seven-and-a-half length victory. High Definition collided with the running rail after jumping the final flight but stuck on well to finish second.
Trainer Willie Mullins was by far from amazed. Speaking to Racing TV he explained: "He didn't impress me at all, I was delighted he won, but throughout the race, he wasn't impressing me.
He looked like he wasn't enjoying it and maybe Cheltenham took much more out of him than we thought.
At home, he was on fire and maybe I did too much with him, because he was going so well.
It's hard to say something went wrong when you win by seven and-a-half lengths.
Maybe he loves the hill in Cheltenham, he just got going up the hill, whereas today is a flat track. I'll have a quick chat with Paul later on and see what he thought.
Turning for home, I wouldn't have backed him, so to win after that just means that he has a huge engine, but he wasn't really in love with what he was doing today, whether it was the ground or what I don't know.
I think we'll freshen him up now. I was thinking maybe of going to France, but I won't, I think I'll just put him away."
Impervious impeccable at Punchestown Festival
JP McManus looks to have a new star on the blocks as his mare Impervious (8/11) remained unbeaten with an emphatic eleven-length success in the 2m5f Grade 2 Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Glencarraig Lady Francis Flood Mares Chase.
The seven-year-old mare readily followed up her impressive win in the Grade 2 Paddy Power Mares' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and took her record to 5-5 over fences with an electric round of jumping. Colm Murphy's stable star travelled strongly throughout, and defeat never looked likely in all truth with jockey Brian Hayes breezing his mount into contention as the pair approached three-out. She quickened up smartly over the second last with the front-running Instit plugging on for second. Stablemate Allegorie De Vassy finished well-held back in third with Elimay the only other runner to complete.
In an interview with Racing TV Murphy said: "She's been an absolute revelation and it's amazing how much she has improved from run to run. She's stronger now than she was on any day during the year.
"She has loads of options and we can dream away for the summer. She can go up or down in trip, it doesn't matter to her. She's just a proper one.
Impervious is now a general 6/4 chance for the Grade 2 Paddy Power Mares' Chase success at the Cheltenham Festival in 2024.
