Tony Keenan considers the fascinating clash between State Man and Impaire Et Passe at Leopardstown before settling on a bet at Limerick.
Willie Mullins has been accused of ducking and diving with his horses at times, finding the softest races available while avoiding each other, but it is hard to level that charge against him today with State Man and Impaire Et Passe set to meet in the Matheson Hurdle, the 2.20 at Leopardstown.
Many – myself included – had expected the pair to take separate paths to Cheltenham in March and a clash with Constitution Hill but instead we should get some idea of their relative merits earlier than anticipated.
At the current prices, I would lean towards Impaire Et Passe; he faced Teahupoo under that one’s ideal conditions in the Hatton’s Grace and did not have things go his way, over-racing for much of the contest and forced to the lead sooner than his rider wanted.
One notable feature of that run was his slick hurdling which should help him back at two miles though State Man is no slouch in that regard, either.
The rest of the Leopardstown card looks tough and the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle, the 2.35 at Limerick, makes more appeal.
Iceberg Theory has a decent level of form but has not seemed any better than that whereas MAGIC SADLER, on the other hand, shaped a lot better than the bare result last time at Clonmel and might be overpriced.
Ciaran Murphy’s five-year-old had some decent efforts in points earlier this year, including a second to Hens Tooth who won a bumper easily at this track on Wednesday before winning next time from a pair that won races afterwards.
He did not show much on his hurdle debut at Galway but took a big step forward last time when fourth in a Clonmel maiden hurdle won by the well-regarded Chapeau De Soleil in a decent timefigure.
The selection, who was sent off a big price, raced keenly under an inexperienced rider and pressed on with the winner from three out, travelling best bar that one until after the second last, before paying for his exertions, a mistake at the last exacerbating the margin of defeat.
He looked to shape second best on the day and a few from the race have run well since, while this afternoon’s event represents a drop in class. A more experienced rider takes over too and his stable have been in good form lately with winners over jumps and on the flat.
Preview posted at 0854 GMT on 29/12/23
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