State Man is the favourite to win the Matheson Hurdle and become Constitution Hill's biggest rival for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The 8/11 favourite for today's Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown (14:20) is last season's comfortable County Hurdle winner State Man.
The Willie Mullins trained five-year-old took the step into open company in his stride when running out an emphatic winner of the Morgiana at Punchestown last month, beating Sharjah (6/1 for the Matheson) by four-lengths.
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Sharjah, bidding to become the first five-time winner of the December Festival Hurdle (Matheson under current title sponsorship), wasn’t at his absolute best that day but Architect Tips can't see a reversal of the form.
Writing in his preview for the day, he suggested that Sharjah's younger stablemate (Sharjah is nine) State Man will come on plenty for his winning return and hasn't yet reached his ceiling.
He added: "State Man has won his last four races, is getting stronger and is the biggest danger to Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle ante-post market having been priced up as the 6/1 second-favourite. There are very few chinks in his armour and Paul (Townend) is excited to get back on him.
"Should he land this high-quality Matheson renewal, his odds for the Champion Hurdle will no doubt be shorter post-race, so if you fancy him for Cheltenham back him now, as the each-way price for him will evaporate if successful here."
Champion Hurdle Odds - Cheltenham 2023
| Name | Best Price | Worst Price |
|---|---|---|
| Constitution Hill | 4/11 | 2/7 |
| State Man | 6/1 | 4/1 |
| Honeysuckle | 9/1 | 7/1 |
| Vauban | 12/1 | 10/1 |
| Jonbon | 20/1 | 20/1 |
