Paul Townend and State Man deliver in style for Cork's Joe and Marie Donnelly

Paul Townend and Willie Mullins continued their remarkable week at a packed Punchestown on Friday evening.

Townend, riding the Cork-owned State Man, gained ample compensation for his fall at the Cheltenham Festival with a stunning performance in the Boodles Champion Hurdle. The heavily-supported favourite Constitution Hill beat just one horse home.

Contrary to racecourse rumor it was the Lisgoold jockey Townend who set the fractions from the front. He was always in pole position as he recorded a remarkable 12th Grade One success.

This was his first appearance since he fell at the last when clear in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. 

Afterward Joe Donnelly said: "This is my best day ever as an owner." That is some statement given the vast array of success adorned by the silks of Joe and Marie Donnelly.

Constitution Hill, who also fell at Cheltenham and again at Aintree, appeared to be in trouble right from the off. He was slowly away and jumped the first very high.

His hurdling lacked any real fluency throughout. The much-vaunted 2023 Champion Hurdler finished only fifth. 

This was the first time he's been beaten when he stayed upright.

The fortuitous Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace fended off Kargese to finish an honourable second, four and three quarter lengths behind the facile winner.

State Man is now 8-1 to try and regain his Champion Hurdle crown at next year's Cheltenham Festival.

FINAL

Earlier Townend again dictated aboard Final Demand 7/4 who put his seven rivals to the sword from flagfall. They were the day's most impressive winner in Punchestown’s Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle by 16 lengths.

That victory and State Man's victory half an hour later gave the UK and Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins an eighth Grade One success this week.

An impressive Dublin Racing Festival winner in February, Final Demand was below par at Cheltenham in March. He was ridden more aggressively today and made all the running under Townend to easily beat Lovely Hurling who lost no caste in defeat.

Both the winner and runner-up are embryonic chasers.The 5/4 favourite The Yellow Clay who'd been runner-up in Cheltenham, was beaten when falling at the last.

Willie Mullins was suitably impressed. “Paul felt he didn’t go fast enough in Cheltenham and said to Caroline Tilsdale, 'I’m going to show him off...'" 

That he certainly did.