State Man has once again proven his dominance in the world of horse racing, triumphing at the prestigious Irish Champion Hurdle for the third year in a row. This year, his victory was marked by a dramatic turn of events as the heavily favored Lossiemouth suffered a heavy fall during the race, shifting the balance in favor of State Man.

Ridden by the skilled Paul Townend and trained under the watchful eye of Willie Mullins, State Man was a 5-4 favorite, showcasing his remarkable form despite the intense competition. The race unfolded at Leopardstown, where excitement was palpable as Lossiemouth contested the lead before suddenly losing control, nearly bringing down State Man in the process.

Trainer Willie Mullins commented on the unexpected turn, stating, "I let both jockeys do whatever they wanted. No instructions. Ride their own race, ride their own horse and it was setting it up to be a hell of a race, I'd say." Although Mullins expressed disappointment for not witnessing a thrilling showdown, he remained proud of State Man’s performance.

Fortunately, both Lossiemouth and her jockey, Danny Mullins, managed to get to their feet after the fall, although Danny appeared to be in pain.

State Man’s commanding victory not only adds to his impressive resume but also marks the second Dublin Racing Festival hat-trick for the formidable duo of Townend and Mullins, following the success of Galopin Des Champs at the Irish Gold Cup just the day before.

Earlier on the same day, they celebrated more wins as Ballyburn secured a win in the novice chase and Kopek Des Bordes dominated the novice hurdle, winning by a striking 13 lengths. However, not all was smooth sailing as Gaelic Warrior finished disappointingly in third place in the Dublin Chase, where El Fabiolo suffered an early fall.

Looking ahead, State Man is set to defend his title at the Cheltenham Festival in March against formidable opponents, including the returning Lossiemouth and the 2023 Champion, Constitution Hill, who missed last year's race. It promises to be an exciting showdown worth anticipating in the racing calendar.