Matheson Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 3m 55.60s

Fils D'oudairies³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 148| C| D

28/1

Smart hurdler. Three wins in the first half of the season, including 2 Grade 2s, but 8½ lengths behind State Man in the Morgiana at Punchestown.

Form: F11013

Impaire Et Passe²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: W P Mullins| OR: 160| BF| D

7/4

Unbeaten over hurdles last term, including victories in the Ballymore at Cheltenham (21f) and Grade 1 Champion Novice at Punchestown (19f). Shaped well in defeat when length second of 5 to Teahuppoo in Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse (2½m) on reappearance 26 days ago. Should be fine back at 2m.

Form: 1/1111-2

State Man³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 166| CD

4/7

No match for Constitution Hill in last season's Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham but that's his only defeat in his last 9 starts, winning a second successive Morgiana at Punchestown last month. Will take all the beating.

Form: 11121-1

Echoes In Rain^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| D

18/1

Smart hurdler. Six wins from 16 NH runs. 5 lengths second of 4 to State Man in Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown (16.7f, soft, 7/1) 34 days ago, no match for winner. Hard to see her turning the tables.

Form: 2/F141-2

Forecasts

State Man (4/7), Impaire Et Passe (7/4), Echoes In Rain (18/1), Fils D'oudairies (28/1)

STATE MAN may not have been able to live with Constitution Hill in last season's Champion Hurdle but he's clear best of the rest in the 2m division and can land this for the second year running. Impaire Et Passe could be suited by the return to 2m and can give his stablemate most to do.