In his absence, State Man turned up and, like the grafter he is, he got the job done, carving out a one-and-a-quarterlength victory over Irish Point that was a little more convincing than the margin might suggest.
State Man was to some extent on a hiding to nothing, as he set off at 2-5 on ground that was expected to suit several rivals, and the strong stayer Irish Point in particular. Paul Townend, his jockey, was happy to sit a few lengths back as Not So Sleepy cut out the early running, and having moved smoothly into contention off the home turn, he jumped and quickened past Irish Point at last to put the race to bed.
It was enough to take the title, but not enough to make State Man even the second-favourite for next year's Champion Hurdle by the end of the day, as his stable companion, Lossiemouth, moved past him in the ante-post betting with an emphatic success in the Mares' Hurdle just 40 minutes later. State Man is, however, as dependable as they come, and that alone makes him an essential part of the Mullins machine.
"It went very smoothly," the trainer said. "Paul rode him with so much confidence. I was concerned that he was a little far back if he made a mistake or anything, in this ground.
Esta historia es de la edición March 13, 2024 de The Guardian.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición March 13, 2024 de The Guardian.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Trump hush money case Cohen is the central figure as trial nears conclusion
Donald Trump's criminal trial is drawing to a close, with two looming questions: what will the jury decide, and how will America react?
Slovakia in crisis Shooting of prime minister shines light on polarised country
Yesterday morning, Father Tomáš stood solemnly in the small Catholic church nestled near a park along the banks of the Danube in Bratislava.
Israel calls international court of justice case an 'obscene exploitation'
Israel yesterday attacked South Africa's case against it in the international court of justice as an \"obscene exploitation\" of the genocide convention, claiming that it aimed not to protect Palestinian civilians but to defend Hamas militants.
In the line of fire Perilous evacuation from town under attack by Russians
Evacuating the last remaining residents of Vovchansk, the town at the centre of Russia's recent offensive in the Kharkiv region, becomes more dangerous with every passing day.
Toxic neoprene Is there a wetsuit that doesn't harm the planet?
Neoprene, the material used to keep swimmers and surfers toasty in the winter, is often manufactured using some of the most toxic chemicals on the planet.
Terrorist who murdered elderly man as revenge for Israel-Gaza war jailed for life
A terrorist who murdered a pensioner in Hartlepool town centre as \"revenge\" for the Israel-Gaza war has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 45 years.
'Descent into parody' Unions deride £4.4m scheme to send out free portraits of king
It is meant to remind Britons of the \"example set by our ultimate public servant\", but a £4.4m scheme to send out free portraits of King Charles for display in public buildings is not quite going to plan.
Manchester teacher found guilty of sexual activity with two schoolboys
A teacher was found guilty yesterday of having sex with two schoolboys.
European baby names gradually gain favour in England and Wales
New entries to the list of top 100 baby names in England and Wales for 2022 suggest European names are gradually gaining favour, data from the Office for National Statistics shows.
Dangerous look: experts warn about risks of surgery to change eye colour
From butter boards to viral dances, social media has spawned a host of fads, but experts have warned against the latest trend: eye-tattooing.