Irish Champion Hurdle
Grade 1, Leopardstown 15:20 €200,000 guaranteed 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1
Tweet Sunday 2nd February 2025

1 State Man 5/4
2 Daddy Long Legs 40/1
3 Winter Fog 28/1
5 ran Distances: 6½l, 9l, 13l
Time: 4m 2.10s (slow by 12.10s)

It's a hat-trick 🙌

State Man is your Irish Champion hurdle winner for the third time🤯@PTownend 🤝 @WillieMullinsNH #DublinRacingFestivalpic.twitter.com/LSMl8D5dSP

— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) February 2, 2025

In a dramatic turn of events at Leopardstown today, State Man clinched his third consecutive Irish Champion Hurdle victory, capitalizing on the unexpected fall of his stablemate and race favorite, Lossiemouth. The race, a highlight of the Dublin Racing Festival, was anticipated as a head-to-head between the two Willie Mullins-trained contenders. 

From the outset, both horses asserted their dominance, quickly distancing themselves from the rest of the field. However, the dynamics shifted dramatically when Lossiemouth, under jockey Danny Mullins, suffered a fall, leaving State Man, ridden by Paul Townend, to secure a comfortable victory. 

This win marks State Man's third Irish Champion Hurdle title, reaffirming his position as a leading hurdler in the National Hunt scene. Trainer Willie Mullins expressed a mix of elation and concern, celebrating State Man's achievement while awaiting updates on Lossiemouth's condition.

Jockey Paul Townend, who had faced criticism for choosing State Man over Lossiemouth, was vindicated by the outcome. He commented, "It's always a tough decision when you have two top-class horses. Today, things went our way, and State Man showed his class."

The race was further intensified by a last-minute jockey reshuffle within the Mullins camp, with Danny Mullins replacing Patrick Mullins on Lossiemouth. This decision added an extra layer of intrigue to an already compelling narrative. 

The unexpected developments have set the stage for the upcoming Cheltenham Festival, where both horses were expected to be key contenders. The racing community now awaits updates on Lossiemouth's recovery and the potential rematch between these two exceptional hurdlers.

Irish Champion Hurdle
2m , €200,000 guaranteed
5 ran
Going: Soft

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    State Man 8 11-12 W P Mullins Paul Townend 5/4
2 6½ Daddy Long Legs 6 11-12 W P Mullins Sean O'Keeffe 40/1
3 9 Winter Fog 11 11-12 W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins 28/1
4 13 Fils d'Oudairies 10 11-12 Gordon Elliott Sam Ewing 80/1
FELL Lossiemouth 6 11-5 W P Mullins Danny Mullins 8/11F