Willie Mullins maintains State Man still his leading light despite recent disappointments
Jodie Townend on State Man, right, with trainer Willie Mullins at the launch of the Dublin Racing Festival.
The season to date has not gone to plan for Champion Hurdler State Man but Willie Mullins is adamant he remains the stable’s number one in the two-mile hurdling division as his Closutton team shapes up for the upcoming Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown and subsequent spring festivals.
Joe and Marie Donnelly’s star hurdler made a pleasing return to action when narrowly outpointed by Brighterdaysahead in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown but failed to build on that when a well-beaten third behind the same mare at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.
