'One of the very best hurdlers we’ve ever seen': Paul Townend pays tribute to retired State Man

State Man and Paul Townend win for trainer Willie Mullins and owner Marie Donnelly. Pic: Healy Racing

Paul Townend has paid a glowing tribute to State Man, describing the Willie Mullis-trained 12-time Grade One winner as one of the “very best hurdlers we’ve ever seen”.

Confirmation the 2024 Champion Hurdle hero has been retired due to injury came earlier this week and Townend paid tribute to both the horse and his owners, Cork-born bookmaker Joe and Marie Donnelly, who donated all of the €1.8 million won in prize-money won to charity.

In a lengthy blog for bookmaker Betway, for whom Townend is an ambassador, the jockey said: “Statistically, people would say Hurricane Fly was the best hurdler I’ve ever ridden, but Ruby [Walsh] took him off me, whereas I was there all the way through State Man’s career, so I’d have to say he’s my number one.

“We’ve had many great two-mile hurdlers at Closutton, and hopefully we’ll have a few more over the coming years, but whether we’ll ever have one that will do things as straightforward and as easily as State Man, I’m not so sure.

“He wasn’t always the flashiest, and that might be why he’s never got the recognition I think he deserves, but sitting on his back in those Grade 1s he was just relentless, and nothing really bothered him. He ran 19 times for us, the vast majority at Grade 1 level, and he was only beaten twice when he stood up, so it’s a record up there with the very best hurdlers we’ve ever seen.” 

Of State Man’s winning owners, Townend said: “The Donnellys were giving his prize money to charity every time, as well, so he’ll have done a lot of good and raised a lot of money for some very deserving causes over the years.” 

The Champion Hurdle was source of disappointment, joy, and ultimately agony for State Man as he was well beaten by Constitution Hill at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, took advantage of his rival’s absence to win the race a year later, before falling at the last when set to successfully defend his title last year.

Townend believes State Man wasn’t firing on all cylinders in that first Champion Hurdle but was thrilled that he got his moment in the sun and heartbroken when it all went wrong at the final flight last year.

“He just didn’t give me the same feel as he had in Ireland throughout the winter and I was never comfortable, in truth,” Townend recalled of the 2023 defeat. “I don’t want to downplay what Constitution Hill did that day, though, because it probably was a bit of a freak performance, but I definitely feel I could have got closer to him if we were on a going day.

“I’m so glad he got his Champion Hurdle the following season, and while people might say it wasn’t the strongest renewal, all he ever did was beat what was in front of him.

“I wouldn’t have had many more devastating days in the saddle than when he came down at the last the following year at Cheltenham, because that was the day when I thought he was going to show everybody what I’d always felt from the saddle. 

"You’d put your grandmother on him, because he was that straightforward over an obstacle, so to topple over that day in the fashion we did was just gutting. It was a matter of inches, as well – it wasn’t a massive mistake – and I’ll never know how he managed it, but racing is a funny old game.

“Riding him in those Grade Ones was sometimes like riding a good one of Willie’s in a maiden hurdle. He just made it look so easy, and he was so straightforward. He was so relaxed it was ridiculous.”