Mullins-trained Champion Hurdle prospect sets the standard in top novice event

Grade 1 Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle | 2m3½f | RTE2/RTV

There are only six runners but there is no shortage of quality with runaway County Hurdle winner and Champion Hurdle prospect State Man, Aintree Grade 1 winner Three Stripe Life and winning machine Flame Bearer all lining up.

State Man heads the market and, along with Deploy The Getaway and Kilcruit, is part of a a three-pronged Willie Mullins team. The five-year-old was talked about in glowing terms with a view towards next season's Champion Hurdle after bolting up in the County Hurdle – landing some hefty wagers in the process – and will be bidding to become Mullins' 11th winner of the race.

A certain Istabraq is among the roll of honour here, which would bode well for those who believe State Man can develop into a Champion prospect, for which he is as short as 14-1 with some firms.

State Man will be tackling Grade 1 company for the first time but Paul Townend has elected to ride him over Supreme third Kilcruit and Deploy The Getaway, suggesting he is the main Mullins hope.

Three Stripe Life sets a decent standard but, if State Man is as good as many believe, he could improve past Gordon Elliott's Grade 1 winner.

Flame Bearer steps up to Grade 1 company and has gone from strength to strength this season. The way he won at Fairyhouse last month, suggests he will come into his own upped to this sort of trip.

Doyle relishing time in the spotlight with hot prospect Flame Bearer

He may be best known for blooding the likes of First Lieutenant, Shattered Love, Death Duty, No More Heroes and Brindisi Breeze but Pat Doyle, famous for selling top jumps prospects, is relishing his time in the spotlight with Flame Bearer.

Unbeaten in his last three races, Flame Bearer has gone from strength to strength and Doyle, who knows a thing or two about talented youngsters, believes there is more to come now the progressive novice is upped in trip and grade.

He said: “It's brilliant to have a horse good enough to be going for a Grade 1, especially for the people who are involved in him. This wasn't the plan; the plan was to sell him as a four or a five-year-old.

“He's in absolutely fabulous form and I couldn't be happier with him. I think that stepping up to this sort of trip will bring out the best in him; you'd certainly have said that last time as he was very strong at the line.”

What they say

Paul Townend, rider of State Man
He won the County Hurdle at Cheltenham very impressively. That form wasn’t backed up at Aintree with the second horse running well below par. He steps up in trip here which shouldn’t be a worry and we think he's a very good horse. It's a small field and we think he can make the step into Grade 1 company.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Three Stripe Life
He’s had a great season and has done nothing but improve. I thought he did it well at Aintree and has come out of that well.

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1.50 Newmarket: Fact-finding Derby mission for connections of small-field Newmarket Stakes

3.15 Goodwood: Could we see another future Group 1 winner in this red-hot Listed race?

3.35 Newmarket: Jetsetting Yibir returns to the green grass of home - what is his main danger?

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5.25 Punchestown: 'He could give her a fright' - can anyone dethrone the mighty Honeysuckle?

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