State Man is set to face seven rivals in his bid to emulate Hurricane Fly and land a third-successive renewal of the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.
It looks like being the seven-year-old’s most difficult assignment since losing to Constitution Hill in the 2023 Champion Hurdle as dual Cheltenham Festival heroine Lossiemouth and emerging force Brighterdaysahead, who has race fitness on her side, are in the line-up for Saturday’s 14:10.
If all three take their chance then it could be a cracker as well as provide a few clues for next year’s Champion Hurdle.
The latest Morgiana Hurdle odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Morgiana Hurdle 2024 verdict
Timeform: STATE MAN has to be considered the one to beat as he goes in search of a third successive Morgiana but his stablemate Lossiemouth looks potentially top class herself and should ensure the Champion Hurdle winner doesn’t have things all his own way. Progressive Jezki Hurdle winner Brighterdaysahead looks clear best of the remainder.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Morgiana Hurdle 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Morgiana Hurdle 2024.
Daddy Long Legs
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: M. J. M. O’Sullivan Age: 5 Weight: 11st 12lbs
Smart hurdler. C&D winner. 2 wins from 5 runs this season. Bit below form 9¼ lengths third of 6 to Brighterdaysahead in Jezki Hurdle at Down Royal (16.9f, good to soft, 7/4) 22 days ago.
**
No Looking Back
Trainer: Oliver McKiernan Jockey: D. J. O’Keeffe Age: 6 Weight: 11st 12lbs
Useful hurdler. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, pulled up in Grimes Hurdle (20/1) at Tipperary (16f, good to soft) 142 days ago won by Winter Fog, pulled up before 2 out. Plenty to find on form.
*
Sir Gerhard
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: D. E. Mullins Age: 9 Weight: 11st 12lbs
Smart hurdler/chaser but no match for State Man in Punchestown when last seen in May.
**
Smooth Tom
Trainer: A. Slattery Jockey: C. M. Quirke Age: 5 Weight: 11st 12lbs
Fairly useful hurdler. Cheekpieces on for 1st time in this code, unseated rider in Jezki Hurdle at Down Royal (16.9f, good to soft, 33/1) 22 days ago won by Brighterdaysahead. Easy to look elsewhere.
*
State Man
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 7 Weight: 11st 12lbs
Couldn’t live with Constitution Hill in the 2023 Champion Hurdle but that’s his only defeat in 13 completed starts since joining Willie Mullins, including the last 2 runnings of this. Lossiemouth is a tough opponent but he’s still very much the one to beat.
*****
Winter Fog
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: S. F. O’Keeffe Age: 10 Weight: 11st 12lbs
Smart hurdler. Latest win in hurdle at Tipperary in July. 9/4, 16½ lengths third of 5 to Daddy Long Legs in Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Tipperary (16.2f, good to soft) 48 days ago.
**
Brighterdaysahead
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: J. W. Kennedy Age: 5 Weight: 11st 5lbs
Beaten at odds on in the Dawn Run at Cheltenham in March but that’s her only defeat, taking her form up another notch with a 3¾-length defeat of stablemate King of Kingsfield in the Grade 3 Jezki Hurdle on her Down Royal reappearance. This mare is likely capable of even better.
***
Lossiemouth
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Mr P. W. Mullins Age: 5 Weight: 11st 5lbs
Unlucky when suffering her only defeat and underlined what a top-class mare she is when easily winning Grade 1s for her own sex at Cheltenham and Punchestown in the spring. Looks more than capable of making her presence felt in top open company.
****
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