02-05-2025
Punchestown: No stopping State Man on home ground
For the last three years, Irish racing fans have been asking Nicky Henderson to bring Constitution Hill to Ireland and now, at the age of eight, with his unblemished record in flames, he's finally coming across to take on the best we have to offer.
It was too early to tell how he'd fare at Cheltenham before he crashed out and in the opinion of this writer, he looked beaten at Aintree. But now, with the birch hurdles at Punchestown, a new jockey and a new test around this track, can Constitution Hill re-establish himself as the best hurdler we've seen since Istabraq? Or will the Irish crowd get to witness his decline first-hand?
Naturally, the first place you start for the Boodles Champion Hurdle (6.40) today is with the reigning Cheltenham champion, but nobody really believes Golden Ace can back up that performance, surely — can she? For the last three years, Irish racing fans have been asking Nicky Henderson to bring Constitution Hill to Ireland. Pic:It appeared that State Man had the race in the bag when he came down while clear at the last at Cheltenham. The cheekpieces added that day had seemed to re-establish his supremacy.
He's won 11 Grade Ones, and he's seeking a third successive Boodles Champion Hurdle here at Punchestown, he's won three Irish Champion Hurdles at Leopardstown.
He's kind of a winning machine and that fall was very much out of character. State Man on the way to Champion Hurdle success at Punchestown last year. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
But when this duo met in 2023, Constitution Hill was like a schoolyard bully in the way he dealt with State Man. There's no doubt in my mind that Henderson's horse is more talented, but I just don't know if he's the same article.
I'm glad he's coming over, I think he's a true champion but this will be his biggest test, in a race which Willie Mullins has won nine of the last 14 renewals.
State Man, in his own backyard, around a track he loves — he gets my verdict, but what a race we have in prospect.
Expect record crowds to come to see this horse. The mare is good, but the boys are better and at 6.40 we will get to see what happens. Lovely Hurling could establish himself as one of the very good horses of next season. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
The Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (6.05) over two and a half miles has nine runners, three from the Mullins yard. The probable favourite will be Final Demand but I think Colm Murphy from Wexford, who has had great horses such as Impervious, Brave Inca and Voler La Vedette, has a really good horse in this.
Lovely Hurling won a maiden as he liked at Naas back in February.
He doesn't have Grade One form like The Yellow Clay or Final Demand and he doesn't have fancy credentials like Cheltenham or Aintree on his CV, but this guy's only at the beginning of his career, and I think Lovely Hurling could establish himself as one of the very good horses of next season. Let's see if he can start that ascent in this race.
The Glencarraig Lady Mares Chase (4.50) was won last year in emphatic fashion by Brides Hill who lines up here in first-time cheek pieces. However, I think the track and trip will really suit Dinoblue, who seems in the form of her life this year after winning at the Cheltenham Festival, where she beat Brides Hill by eight and a half lengths, and Allegorie De Vassy, who also reopposes. Dinoblue on the way to victory at the Cheltenham Racing Festival. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
The ground will play right to Dinoblue's strengths and she's coming here, I think, as the class act. Her official rating has her nine pounds clear of her nearest rival and while she has to concede weight all round, I think she's good enough to do so. It's Dinoblue for the Mares' Chase for me.
The QuinnBet Novice Handicap Chase (5.25) over two and a half miles sees a huge field of 20 assembled and the one I like here is Blizzard Of Oz.
The ownership team of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede have already had a fabulous week with two winners on the board. This guy, who was third behind Harry Des Ongrais last time at Gowran, has a stand-out piece of form when he ran third behind Slade Steel and Lecky Watson in a beginners' chase at Naas earlier in the year. He remains a maiden over fences, which I think could mean he's well treated on his handicap debut, and I think he's going to run a big race for JJ Slevin here despite a high weight.
Its On The Line is going to be all the rage in the Event Power Champion Hunters Chase (4.15). After all, he's seeking a hat-trick of wins in the race. But I have a sneaky suspicion that Big Interest could run a huge race for Northern Ireland trainer, David Christie. Big Interest won at Fairyhouse by 18 lengths. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
He loves dry ground conditions, he won at Fairyhouse by 18 lengths last time, unextended, and he actually beat Its On The Line when they met at Down Royal back in December. He's a much younger horse and I think this guy has more to offer in the sunshine, which he loves.
In the Uniquely Novice Hurdle (7.10) over two miles, I'm going to go with Naturally Nimble.
I fancied Naturally Nimble to win the Fred Winter at Cheltenham and he wasn't even declared; he then went to run at Fairyhouse in a similar type of juvenile event and he fell three out, but ultimately, at the time he looked beaten.
I'm not surprised his connections have reached for the cheekpieces first time, because I've a funny feeling that this guy is saving a bit of ability for himself.
He is one of only two four-yearolds to take on the older horses here. But with Joseph O'Brien's string in good form, this Flatbred horse should appreciate quick ground conditions and I think his rider JJ Slevin could be in for a big day.
Naturally Nimble looked useful when he beat Willy De Houelle at Fairyhouse that day in December, and if he bounces back to that form, he's going to be hard to beat here.
