Yet another disappointingly small field, this one deprived of the talented but inconsistent Teahupoo late in the day, but it may well prove to be solid as well as high-class form, the pace sound and the overall time good compared to most other hurdle races on the card (they jumped all 8 flights here, unlike in the earlier 3yo Hurdle), with the winner’s finishing speed from 3 out estimated at a slightly-quicker-than-par 105.9%.
STATE MAN (h169 here, 161+ previously) was left with an easier task than might have been the case but impressed both visually and on the clock in despatching two very smart rivals, as well as a very useful and in-form one. He raced in second behind a sound pace, edged ahead after 2 out, then went on for good approaching the last, pushed out quite vigorously most of the way to the line. This might well have put him in pole position for the Champion Hurdle in an average year, but the continued presence of Honeysuckle and the emergence of Constitution Hill (like State Man, a novice last season) suggests the 2023 edition will be anything but “average”.
SHARJAH (h164 here, 168 previously), the winner of this in 2018 and 2021, has reached the age when most hurdlers begin to wane, but he was probably fairly close to his best in second, held up a bit off the pace, closing 3 out, hard at work after the next and going second under pressure soon after the last, unable to trouble the impressive winner but keeping the margin respectable.
SALDIER (h160 here, 163 previously), the winner of this in 2019, was probably close to his best after 9 months off, leading until just after 2 out and losing second when awkward at the last. He has not been the most consistent but seems to retain plenty of ability.
JESSE EVANS (h147 here, 148 previously) brought up the rear throughout, unable to make inroads from the second-last, but probably ran respectably. He had been second in the Galway Hurdle and won a Grade 3 at Tipperary already this season.
