Champion Hurdle still a live event with State Man set to give Constitution Hill a crack

Will State Man give Constitution Hill a race at Cheltenham? Champion Hurdle is still a live event. Johnny Ward reports from another Willie Mullins-dominated final day at Leopardstown.

Willie Mullins won all the graded races at Leopardstown. State Man finished second in the Champion Hurdle. He is the second favourite behind Constitution Hill for the 14 March feature at Cheltenham. Three Stripe Life fell two out and had to be put down. Unexpected Depth, whose trainer Oliver McKiernan had enjoyed one of the biggest wins of his career at Limerick with the horse’s half-brother, was pulled up and fatally injured. The Dublin Racing Festival looks like the plan for Mullin's horses. They will then go to Cheltonham in March. It is a good time to go.