led and clear, jumped right, mistake 2nd, jumped right and headed 2 out, ridden and dropped to last entering straight, weakened
raced disputing 3rd, close 3rd and mistake 2 out, short of room briefly entering straight, ridden in 2nd before last, kept on without threatening winner in 2nd run-in
tracked leader in 2nd, led travelling well 2 out, pushed along before last, clear and ran on well under hands and heels run-in, comfortably
raced disputing 3rd, dropped to last briefly 2 out, headway into 2nd and pushed along entering straight, 3rd and ridden before last, no extra in 3rd run-in
STATE MAN beat Vauban and Sharjah, who had won the previous three renewals, in this a year ago and looks the second-best hurdler around after finding just Constitution Hill too strong in the Champion Hurdle. He had stablemate Echoes In Rain five lengths behind and Fils D'oudairies a further three lengths back n the Morgiana at Punchestown and another from the yard, Impaire Et Passe, looks a more likely threat. Unbeaten in five starts before finding Teahupoo just too good in the Hatton's Grace, his victory over Gaelic Warrior in last season's Ballymore was one of the stand-out performances at Cheltenham.
Fils D'oudairies (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Led, not fluent at 1st, ridden and headed entering straight, dropped to moderate last before last, rallied to regain moderate 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 4, 8 1/2l behind State Man (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 1f (1) sft in Nov.
Impaire Et Passe (FR) 4-5fav (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd early, took keen hold, not fluent at 1st, 2nd from 3rd, disputed lead 3 out, led entering straight, travelling well 2 out, ridden and joined before last, headed after last, kept on well under pressure in 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Teahupoo (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
State Man (FR) 1-6fav (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, improved to lead entering straight, went clear travelling well before last, pushed along and stayed on strongly run-in, easily, won at Punchestown 2m 1f (1) sft in Nov beating Echoes In Rain (11-5) by 5l, 4 ran.
Echoes In Rain (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Held up in touch in last, took keen hold, headway on outer into 2nd entering straight, ridden before last, no impression on winner run-in, kept on without threatening winner, 2nd of 4, 5l behind State Man (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 1f (1) sft in Nov.
