Unibet Morgiana Hurdle
Grade 1, Punchestown 14:35
 €120,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus, 2m 40y,
Class 1    
Saturday 25th November 2023

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1 State Man 1/6F
2 Echoes In Rain 7/1
3 Fils D'Oudairies 33/1
4 ran Distances: 5l, 3½l, 2½l
Time: 4m 20.70s

State Man, having claimed victory in the same event the previous year, went on to have a remarkable season, with his sole defeat coming at the hands of Constitution Hill in five Grade One races.

Under the guidance of Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend, the 1-6 favorite navigated the small field of four with ease. Positioned in mid-division, he displayed a well-paced performance, accelerating around the final bend to triumph over stablemate Echoes In Rain by a comfortable five-length margin.

“Paul was much happier getting down off him this year than he was last year so maybe there is a bit of improvement there for this season,” said Mullins.

“I thought he’d won turning for home and I was surprised when there was a bit of a shemozzle and I got a bit of a fright for a couple of seconds, but was happy enough then.

“Impaire Et Passe will go to Fairyhouse next weekend (Hatton’s Grace Hurdle) and we’ll try to keep them apart for as long as we can. They all have to get there in March so we’ll concentrate on the domestic scene for the moment.”

Townend added: “He’s very good. He quickened up smartly down the straight.

“It was grand to get a lead on this lad actually because he put his eye in on the first couple of hurdles whereas when he is dawdling away in front, he can actually go down and bunny hop them a little bit.”

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Unibet Morgiana Hurdle
€120,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 40y, Class 1
4 ran
Going: Soft

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    State Man 6 11-12 W P Mullins Paul Townend 1/6F
2 5 Echoes In Rain 7 11-5 W P Mullins Danny Mullins 7/1
3 3½ Fils D'Oudairies 8 11-12 Gordon Elliott Sam Ewing 33/1
4 2½ Pied Piper 5 11-12 Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy 12/1

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