State Man
who retains the Jumps HOTS award. Peej kept single pick rights for the Mullins hurdling star and Martin also selected the 2022/23 Champion Hurdle runner-up.
State Man returned in the Grade One Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November and won like a 1/6 favourite should with Echoes In Rain five lengths back in second to earn Peej 52.2 points (Martin gets half points of course.)
The presence of Impaire Et Passe in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown between Christmas and New Year meant that State Man went off at 7/4 on but Paul Townend just had to push the favourite out late on for a comfortable three and a quarter length win. 52.8 points this time.
It was Leopardstown again in February for the Irish Champion Hurdle and it was another facile win for the 2/5 favourite. Bob Olinger got closest to State Man this time but was still beaten five and a half lengths. Eventual champion Peej bagged another 52.6 points
So to Cheltenham for the Champion Hurdle. With some sort of malaise in the Henderson stable Constitution Hill was absent and State Man went off as the 2/5 favourite for the big prize. The heavy ground perhaps didn't play to it's strength but the horse and Townend were always doing enough to deny Irish Point (who surely wants further) by a length and a quarter. The bonus race meant that there was 76.4 points for Peej on his way to a third successive jumps crown.
The top three:
234.0 - State Man (52.2 + 52.8 + 52.6 + 76.4)
156.4 - Gaelic Warrior (22.6 + 52.8 + 81)
155.21 - Galopin Des Champs (52.1 + 51.2 + 51.91)
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