State Man v Honeysuckle v Vauban: assessing a star-studded Irish Champion Hurdle

The Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (3.10 Leopardstown, Sunday) looks a fascinating race between Ireland’s three best two-mile hurdlers. Here we go through the form of the main contenders and produce an early verdict on who will come out on top.

State Man

Recent form: 111-11

Strengths: Winner of all five completed starts for Willie Mullins and looked potentially high-class when claiming the County Hurdle with a bit to spare last March.

3-3 in Grade 1 company since his festival success, taking the Morgiana at Punchestown on seasonal debut and supplementing that in the Matheson over this course and distance 38 days ago.

Has improved his Racing Post Rating on every start and with just seven runs to his name there’s the potential for further improvement.

Weaknesses: Benefited from a fine Paul Townend ride last time when the omission of the final hurdle worked in his favour.

A strong traveller who has had the benefit of a clear leader to chase down in both starts this season. No obvious pace angle here which may result in him making his own running.

Odds: Evens

What they say: Willie Mullins, trainer (after winning the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown, December 29)

“State Man just keeps improving and I think there is more improvement again after today. We were discussing where he goes next and the Dublin Racing Festival looks like the plan now.”

State Man09:23 Leopardstown

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Jky: Tnr:

Honeysuckle

Recent form: 1111-3

Strengths: Exceptional hurdler whose 16-race winning sequence came to an end in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse in December. Had winning form fresh but is now a nine-year-old and could have needed that run, so improvement is very possible.

That Hatton’s Grace form has been franked since and she beat Saldier by almost 30 lengths further than State Man had in the Morgiana.

Has won the last three renewals of this race and is far more experienced than the Willie Mullins pair, who have to concede 7lb to her.

Weaknesses: Seemed to always find a way to win, even when not quite at her best, so it was a little disappointing she couldn’t get the job done in the Hatton’s Grace.

Odds: 7-4

What they say: Kenny Alexander, owner (after finishing third in the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, December 4)

“They all get beat in the end unfortunately and Honeysuckle has been beaten. She ran her heart out, she seemed to be going as good as ever then suddenly we’ve gone over the last and been beaten. It doesn’t take anything away from what she’s achieved, she’s taken me to places and won races I’d never have dreamed of. Today just wasn’t to be. Henry (de Bromhead) is the governor, if he wants to go and take on Constitution Hill then we will but if he wants to stop it, I’ll say stop it. He’s been unbelievable with this horse, Rachael has been fantastic too. Today it wasn’t to be and that’s life.”

Honeysuckle: three-time winner of the Irish Champion HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Honeysuckle09:23 Leopardstown

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Jky: Tnr:

Vauban

Recent form: 2111-2

Strengths: A classy recruit to hurdling having been a Listed winner on the Flat in France and he quickly developed into last season’s leading juvenile with three wins from four starts, including the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at this meeting last year.

Made an encouraging start to this season when second to State Man in the Matheson. He was only beaten four and a quarter lengths there and would likely have finished closer but for being short of room in the home straight.

His jumping holds plenty of scope for improvement and that latest run suggested he can mix it with the top two-mile hurdlers.

Weaknesses: Raced quite keen early in the Matheson and that would be a worry if this race turned tactical.

A five-year-old hasn’t won the Irish Champion Hurdle since Chirkpar in 1992.

Odds: 11-4

What they say: Willie Mullins, trainer (after winning the Grade 1 Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown, April 30)

“Vauban is able to get down and hurdle properly now. He settled well and was able to change gear. He looks hugely exciting.”

Vauban09:23 Leopardstown

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Jky: Tnr:

Verdict

This could well be the race of the Dublin Racing Festival with three multiple Grade 1 winners set to do battle.

State Man has done nothing but improve and his ceiling probably hasn’t been reached, but given that stablemate Vauban now has a run under his belt it’s feasible he will narrow the gap between the two from the Matheson.

Honeysuckle lost her unbeaten record in the Hatton’s Grace, but she travelled through that with her usual enthusiasm and it might just be at the age of nine she now needs a run to get into peak fitness.

At the prices, she looks the value play in a race that will – one way or another – reveal Constitution Hill’s main Champion Hurdle threat.

Honeysuckle09:23 Leopardstown

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Jky: Tnr:

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