Boodles Champion Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 18:40 €300,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1  |
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1 State Man 9/4
2
Golden Ace 14/1
3 Kargese 15/2
6 ran Distances: 4¾l, 1¼l, 18l
Time: 3m 57.00s (slow by 10.70s)
@PTownend with a no-nonsense ride aboard State Man, who jumped with a real fluency throughout the Grade 1 @Boodles Champion Hurdle and put the race to bed in stylish order, giving @WillieMullinsNH victory 👏@punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/eXyaf3X2i9
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) May 2, 2025
In a renewal brimming with promise and past redemption, it was State Man who seized the day — dictating matters from the tape and powering to a third successive Boodles Champion Hurdle crown with a performance of both control and class.
The Punchestown crowd had come for a clash of titans. The rematch between Mullins' metronome and Henderson's headline act, both brought down by fate and a final-flight fall at Cheltenham. Add in Golden Ace, heroine of Prestbury Park, and you had the makings of something special.
But the fireworks never came from the favourite.
Sent off at 8-13 despite successive falls — Cheltenham and then Aintree — Constitution Hill looked short of his former self. On his first appearance on Irish soil, he travelled like a shadow of the horse once hailed as unbeatable. Turning in, he was treading water. At the line, he was fifth — flat, fatigued, and for now, found wanting.
By contrast, State Man never let the tempo drop. Paul Townend had him out early, rolling into his rhythm, squeezing pressure from every stride. And when they turned in, there was no question: it was over.
Golden Ace gave brave chase but never looked like reeling him in. Four and three-quarter lengths was the official verdict, but the manner of it told the true tale — State Man was in a different gear, perhaps even a different league on the day.
Three Punchestown titles. One unanswered Cheltenham question. But on this showing, that may yet be answered with time.
Punchestown Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
€300,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Yielding
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 State Man 8 11-12 W P Mullins Paul Townend 9/4
2 4¾ Golden Ace 7 11-5 Jeremy Scott Lorcan Williams 14/1
3 1¼ Kargese 5 11-5 W P Mullins Danny Mullins 15/2
4 18 Break My Soul 6 11-5 Ian Patrick Donoghue Keith Donoghue 125/1
5 3¼ Constitution Hill 8 11-12 Nicky Henderson James Bowen 8/13F
6 5½ Bottler'secret 5 11-12 Aidan Melia Danny Gilligan 250/1
PAST RESULTS
Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2024 State Man 7 11-12 Mrs J Donnelly W P Mullins Paul Townend 2/7F
2023 State Man 6 11-12 Mrs J Donnelly W P Mullins Paul Townend 2/5F
2022 Honeysuckle 7 11-07 Kenneth Alexander Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 1/5F
2021 Honeysuckle 7 11-07 Kenneth Alexander Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 4/7F
2020 Abandoned - Covid-19
2019 Buveur D'Air 8-11-12 John P McManus Nicky Henderson Davy Russell 2/1J
2018 Supasundae 8-11-12 Wicklow B’stock (Ire) Ltd Mrs J Harrington RM Power 12/1
2017 Wicklow Brave 8-11-12 Wicklow B’stock (Ire) Ltd Willie Mullins Mr Patrick Mullins 12/1
2016 Vroum Vroum Mag 7-11-5 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 4/6 Fav
2015 Faugheen 7-11-12 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 1/6 Fav
2014 Jezki 6-11-12 J P McManus Jessica Harrington A P McCoy 4/5 Fav
2013 Hurricane Fly 9-11-12 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 1/4 Fav
2012 Hurricane Fly 8-11-12 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 4/11 Fav
2011 Hurricane Fly 7-11-12 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 1/2 Fav
2010 Hurricane Fly 6-11-12 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins Paul Townend 3/1
2009 Solwhit 5-11-12 Top Of The Hill Syndicate Charles Byrnes Davy Russell 2/1 Jt Fav
2008 Punjabi 5-11-12 Raymond Tooth Nicky Henderson GB Barry Geraghty 2/1
2007 Silent Oscar 8-11-12 Patrick Convery Harry Rogers Robbie Power 20/1
2006 Macs Joy 7-11-12 Mac’s J Racing Jessica Harrington Barry Geraghty 11/4
2005 Brave Inca 7-11-12 Novices Syndicate Colm Murphy A P McCoy 2/1
2004 Hardy Eustace 7-11-12 Lar Byrne Dessie Hughes Conor O’Dwyer 3/1
2003 Quazar 5-11-13 David Carr Jonjo O’Neill GB Tony Dobbin 7/2
2002 Davenport Milenium 6-11-12 Mrs Noel O’Callaghan Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 11/2
*2001 Moscow Flyer 7-12-00 Brian Kearney Jessica Harrington Barry Geraghty 6/1
2000 Grimes 7-11-09 J P McManus Christy Roche Charlie Swan 6/1
1999 Istabraq 7-12-00 J P McManus Aidan O’Brien Charlie Swan 1/4 Fav
1998-96 No race
1995 Fortune And Fame 8-11-08 Michael Smurfit Dermot Weld Richard Dunwoody 4/7 Fav
1994 Fortune And Fame 7-11-08 Michael Smurfit Dermot Weld Brendan Sheridan 4/9 Fav
1993 Camden Buzz 5-11-05 Carmel Byrne Paddy Mullins Charlie Swan Evs Fav
* Run at Leopardstown
