Unibet International Hurdle |
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| Grade 2, Cheltenham 15:00 £130,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 179y, Class 1 |
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This Grade 2 race over 2 miles 1 furlong promises to be an exciting contest with several top-class hurdlers set to compete.
Key Contenders
State Man: The reigning champion hurdler, trained by Willie Mullins, will be looking to bounce back after a surprising defeat. State Man was sent off as the 4-9 favorite for the Neville Hotels Hurdle at Leopardstown but was beaten by Gordon Elliott-trained Brighterdaysahead. Mullins believes that State Man's performance might have been an anomaly and is optimistic about a strong showing in the Unibet Hurdle.
A demolition job by Brighterdaysahead in the Grade 1 Nevills Hotel Hurdle at @LeopardstownRC . She’s now a general 4/1 for the Champion Hurdle.
— RaceiQ (@Race_iQ) December 29, 2024
☀ Winning distance: 30 lengths
☀ Top speed: 34.56mph
☀ Jump Index score: 8.5
☀ Lengths gained jumping: 6.34
☀ FSP: 98.34% pic.twitter.com/m2ZZZBookB
Brighterdaysahead: The mare who handed State Man a 30-length defeat in the Christmas feature at Leopardstown, Brighterdaysahead, will be a strong contender. Her exceptional performance in recent races makes her a horse to watch in this race.
Lossiemouth: Another Mullins-trained horse, Lossiemouth, will also be in the mix. She finished second behind the returning Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, and a rematch between the two could be on the cards.
Mullins' Perspective
Willie Mullins, reflecting on State Man's recent performances, commented: "He had probably worked a little bit that way, but we’re used to that with him, except he has performed better on the track whereas he didn’t perform. Then again, the winner produced an exceptional performance. By the end of the season, we might be saying there was no shame."
Mullins also mentioned the possibility of Lossiemouth running in the Unibet Hurdle or the Dublin Racing Festival, depending on how things unfold.
Race Conditions
The Unibet Hurdle is open to horses aged four years and older, with weights of 10st 5lb for four-year-olds and 11st 4lb for older horses. The race offers a guaranteed prize of £125,000.
Conclusion
With top contenders like State Man, Brighterdaysahead, and Lossiemouth, the Unibet Hurdle promises to be a thrilling race. Mullins' horses will be looking to redeem themselves after a mixed Christmas period, and fans can look forward to an exciting showdown at Cheltenham.
Unibet International Hurdle (Grade 2)
£130,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 179y, Class 1
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