SORRY STATE

Mullins' star ruled out for season

- BY MELISSA JONES

STAR hurdler State Man will take no part in the jumps season after he sustained a season ending injury yesterday.

The Willie Mullins-trained chestnut - winner of 14 of his 20 races - hurt a tendon while exercising on the gallops at Closutton.

He had been going through the gears in his preparation for the Grade One Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday week, which he won claimed in 2022 and 2023.

Last year he was beaten by Brighterdaysahead but a few months later in March, reinvigorated by first-time cheekpieces, the eight-year-old had the Champion Hurdle at his mercy before parting company with Paul Townend at the final jump.