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What makes you think State Man has never been fully tested ?
I have him as a very good, consistent and reliable horse that has shown his form and is unlikely to improve (much) further.
Because when he has completed he has only been beaten once (When trained by Mullins) with his only defeat when Townsend said he was below par. Best way to find out how good a horse is is by beating them when they have run to form. I see from reading your comments that you aren't one for ratings so won't go down that route, only to say he does what it takes to win and doesn't do any more. To be honest, most of his runs have been in a similar style, in small fields when he gets a lead and kicks on with nothing able to go with him. It also leads to the winning distances not being big and the style of win being less flashy than a Constitution Hill. However, the key point is he wins.
I think it would be fascinating to see a fit Constitution Hill in a 'State Man' style race considering nothing has been able to live with him yet granted those conditions. How good would it be to see the pair of them in a head to head battle from a furlong or so out?
Because when he has completed he has only been beaten once (When trained by Mullins) with his only defeat when Townsend said he was below par. Best way to find out how good a horse is is by beating them when they have run to form. I see from reading your comments that you aren't one for ratings so won't go down that route, only to say he does what it takes to win and doesn't do any more. To be honest, most of his runs have been in a similar style, in small fields when he gets a lead and kicks on with nothing able to go with him. It also leads to the winning distances not being big and the style of win being less flashy than a Constitution Hill. However, the key point is he wins.
I think it would be fascinating to see a fit Constitution Hill in a 'State Man' style race considering nothing has been able to live with him yet granted those conditions. How good would it be to see the pair of them in a head to head battle from a furlong or so out?
I'm fairly comfortable with ratings. I just look beyond them.
I'd be fairly happy thinking State Man ran very close to form on the day in question, the proximity of others back this up.
I'm also pretty sure we've seen what State man can do.
Townend's comments need to be taken for what they are.
I'd categorise his comments as hopeful.
If Lossiemouth does end up in the CH then I'm pretty certain that PT will be riding her. If he isn't then he'll be on her in the Mares Hurdle.
When he won the Champion Hurdle on State Man last season? I'd be very surprised if he jumped off the current Champion Hurdler, unless he wants the Donnelly's to take there horses away from Willie!
Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more I sweat, the luckier I get.
When he won the Champion Hurdle on State Man last season? I'd be very surprised if he jumped off the current Champion Hurdler, unless he wants the Donnelly's to take there horses away from Willie!
I reckon if you made him make that decision now he'd choose to ride Lossiemouth. I do see her progressing past State Man as good as that one is. She looks special in my eyes.
I reckon if you made him make that decision now he'd choose to ride Lossiemouth. I do see her progressing past State Man as good as that one is. She looks special in my eyes.
I think it's the other way round. If he had to choose now, he'd choose State Man, he's the reigning 2m Champion Hurdler, and Lossiemouth won an average Mares Hurdle.
It may be different come the festival, IF Lossiemouth has proven her worth as a 2m hurdler.
I think it's the other way round. If he had to choose now, he'd choose State Man, he's the reigning 2m Champion Hurdler, and Lossiemouth won an average Mares Hurdle.
It may be different come the festival, IF Lossiemouth has proven her worth as a 2m hurdler.
Depends what sort of feel he gets from them both in races and at home. He'll already have an idea of whether she'll progress past him and if she is CH class. She could also have 2 or 3 Champion Hurdles in her so that'll be at the back of his mind.
He'll get a good feel from both, but he'll never know until they meet each other on a racecourse. When they do he has to make a decision, and it'll be State Man. The only thing that would change that is if they meet prior to the Festival and she got the upper hand which is possible. But both of those things need to happen and I'd say it's odds against.
Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more I sweat, the luckier I get.
It's an interesting debate and one that could go right to the wire as I don't see them meeting prior to the Fez. I'm sure Willie will have some input into his decision as he'll have his own ideas. Let's see how it pans out.
Mullins, already planning ahead, said: ‘I will try to keep them apart as long as I can. You could see Lossiemouth a little more in England or maybe we will send State Man here."
If he does keep them apart (which I believe he will) and they are both unbeaten but Lossiemouth is still ahead of him in the market then it'll be very difficult for PT to get off her.
Mullins, already planning ahead, said: ‘I will try to keep them apart as long as I can. You could see Lossiemouth a little more in England or maybe we will send State Man here."
If he does keep them apart (which I believe he will) and they are both unbeaten but Lossiemouth is still ahead of him in the market then it'll be very difficult for PT to get off her.
Can't bloody wait for them to get going.
It makes sense to keep them apart, for all I'd love to see her clash with SM. Seeing your post and looking at this more closely, I think it's a virtual certainty she will be campaigned sparingly and kept out of deep water, which lends even more weight to her coming her IMO. Willie is a creature of habit and if it ain't broke don't fix it. What he did last year with Lossiemouth worked perfectly, and he did the exact same thing with Annie Power. One run, then onto the Champion Hurdle. It's probably premature to start guessing about race tactics, but, if Lossiemouth did go to the Champion Hurdle then I'd tell the jockey to do an Annie Power and front run. Con Hill does everything so effortlessly and he's quick, so I can envisage a scenario where they jump the forth last at the top of the hill and try to pinch an 'easy' lead so she can free wheel down hill and use her speed and effectiveness over 2m5f, plus her weight allowance to her advantage.
Given the Irish programme, Mullins' desire to keep horses apart, and his recent UK trainers championship title I wondered if he might send a few over earlier than he has done in previous years.
He basically won the title with the Spring festivals, it won't take many Saturday raids to get him competitive long before then which may well see a few of his stars heading this way....
Given the Irish programme, Mullins' desire to keep horses apart, and his recent UK trainers championship title I wondered if he might send a few over earlier than he has done in previous years.
He basically won the title with the Spring festivals, it won't take many Saturday raids to get him competitive long before then which may well see a few of his stars heading this way....
Sounds like thats the plan and why not. Some travel without blinking an eyelid but it's always good to get in the box and come over and if it's at cheltenham, all the better I say. The International Hurdle is worth £70k so it's easy money tbf.
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