4

The Paddy Power Champion Hurdle of €300,000 (Grade 1)

(Generously sponsored by Paddy Power) Paddy Power will present a trophy of no intrinsic value to the winning owner, trainer, jockey of this race, €500 to the winning groom and €150 to the groom in charge of the best turned out horse.

Winner €177,000 Second €60,000 Third €30,000 Fourth €15,000 Fifth €9,000 Sixth €6,000 Race conditions A hurdle for four years old and upwards.

Weights 4-y-o 11st 4lbs; 5-y-o and up 11st 12lbs.

Mares allowed 7lbs.

COLOURS / RIDER NO / DRAW / FORM / HORSE

1

Kieren Buckley

Declared 6

Trifecta

Distance 2m

Colonel Mustard (Fr) 6 CPiece, 8 11-12

Owned by: Mrs A Frost & P G Davies & R H Fowler g Chesnut by Makfi - Waldblume (Halling) Colours: RED, white diamond, white sleeves, red spots, red cap Bred by: Gestut Gorlsdorf Mrs Lorna Fowler MEATH 3742-22

RACING POST VERDICT Chased home Rubaud in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, lowest-rated here to the tune of 12lb Probable SP: 33/1

Career record 15 runs, 2 wins, 13 places Strike-Rate 13 % Prize-money earned €123,970

Colonel Mustard (FR) 2 N.H. wins €12,390.00 C -- Handicap Rating 145

2

Pied Piper (GB) 42

TStrap, 5 11-12

Owned by: Caldwell Construction Ltd g Chesnut by New Approach - Pure Fantasy (Fastnet Rock) Colours: RED, white diamond, white sleeves, red diamonds, red cap Bred by: The Queen Gordon Elliott

RACING POST VERDICT A shade unlucky not to win the County Hurdle, well held by the Mullins-trained principals Probable SP: 10/1

15 places Strike-Rate 28 % Prize-money earned €207,203

3

Sharjah (Fr) 15 TStrap, 10 11-12

Owned by: Mrs S Ricci g Bay by Doctor Dino - Saaryeh (Royal Academy)

Colours: PINK, light green spots, pink sleeves & cap Bred by: Ecurie Haras De Beauvoir

RACING POST VERDICT Creditable Aintree second with Zanahiyr third, unlikely to beat State Man at this stage Probable SP: 7/1 record 40 runs, 10 wins, 26 places Strike-Rate 25 % Prize-money earned €1,017,849

C D -- Handicap Rating

4

State Man (Fr) 45 6 11-12

Owned by: Mrs J Donnelly g Chesnut by Doctor Dino - Arret Station (Johann Quatz)

Colours: YELLOW & BLACK CHECK, yellow sleeves, black star on cap

Paul Townend

Mullins CARLOW 1111-12

Bred by: M L Bloodstock Limited

RACING POST VERDICT Won four Grade 1s in a row before no match for Constitution Hill, can regain the thread Probable SP: 4/9

Career record 9 runs, 6 wins, 8 places Strike-Rate 66 % Prize-money earned €521,160 State Man (FR) 6 N.H. wins €417,938.10 C D -- Handicap Rating 166