State Man received the Champion Hurdle on the Punchestown Competition as Structure Hill got here house in fifth place.
Regardless of falls in consecutive races at Cheltenham and Aintree, Structure Hill was an 8-13 favorite to get again to profitable methods at Punchestown.
Nonetheless it was State Man, who additionally fell at Cheltenham, who stormed to victory with Paul Townend on house soil, whereas eight-time Grade One winner Structure Hill drifted away to a fifth-place end.
It was a 3rd Champion Hurdle victory on the pageant for the Willie Mullins-trained horse, who got here house forward of Cheltenham winner Golden Ace.
“It is the efficiency we all the time thought he had in him,” Mullins mentioned about State Man on RTE.
“In equity to Structure Hill, I do not suppose he turned up on the day. It’s extremely arduous to journey from England after having two falls and issues simply did not go proper for him.
“Our fella has run his true race and that is been a continuing factor in his racing life, he all the time turns up and runs his race. It was an enormous efficiency.”
Townend and Mullins mixed to win the Grade One Novice Hurdle on Closing Demand, forward of Beautiful Hurling and Tripoli Flyer.
Fountain Home received the opening race of the day within the Hunters’ Chase, whereas Its On The Line got here house within the Champion Hunters’ Chase.
Sea Music received the Novice Handicap Chase, Gordon Elliott’s Casheldale Lad claimed the Novice Hurdle and Soldier In Milan received the Flat Race within the last outing of the day.
The ultimate day of the pageant takes place on Saturday.
