With the National Hunt season now well underway, owners, trainers, and punters have begun plotting a course towards the Cheltenham Festival in March. For those making ante-post plans for the most magical meeting of the year, the yard of Willie Mullins is the obvious first port of call.
Hot on the heels of his improbable Breeders’ Cup Turf success with Ethical Diamond, Mullins has settled back into his main line of work – mopping up Graded-class National Hunt contests at an unprecedented rate. As with just about every other leading National Hunt trainer, success at the Cheltenham Festival features high on the Mullins wish list.
Already the most successful trainer in the history of the Prestbury Park spectacular, Mullins will almost certainly add to his record-setting 113-winner haul in March. However, early November provided evidence that Mullins is not immune to a significant setback. Following a routine piece of homework, two-mile hurdle star State Man was found to have suffered a tendon injury and will play no part in the 2025/26 campaign.
Grade 1 Superstar a Huge Miss
Thanks to the exploits of Constitution Hill, State Man probably hasn’t received the adulation he deserves. In almost any other era, the son of Doctor Dino would be the unquestioned king of the two-mile hurdling hill. Here we have a horse who has racked up an incredible 12 Grade 1 wins (four more than Constitution Hill) and amassed over £1.5m in career prize money.
Highlights among that streak of excellence include three wins in the Irish Champion Hurdle, three in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle, and one in the 2024 Champion Hurdle. The Mrs J Donnelly-owned gelding appeared certain to add a second Champion Hurdle to his CV in 2025, only to fall at the final flight with the race at his mercy. Last sighted slamming Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace at Punchestown, his absence increases the chances of every other horse with Champion Hurdle aspirations.
Mullins to Reshuffle His Pack
When announcing the news, Willie Mullins stated:
“It’s hugely disappointing, but that’s the sport we’re in. You’ve got to really enjoy the good days, because things like this can happen in the blink of an eye.”
If any yard is equipped to cope with the loss of a 12-time Grade 1 winner, it is that of Willie Mullins. He may have lost his two-mile team captain, but it’s hard to imagine Mullins arriving at the 2026 Champion Hurdle without a significant chance of lifting the trophy. When looking through the list of State Man alternatives, the following stars catch the eye as potential Champion Hurdle types.
Lossiemouth
This Rich Ricci-owned mare is already a three-time Cheltenham Festival winner, having claimed the JCB Triumph Hurdle (2023), and the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (2024, 2025).
Successful seven times at the highest level, she was set to go down the Champion Hurdle route last season – only to blot her copybook with defeat in the Christmas Hurdle and a fall in the Irish Champion Hurdle. In an open year, this may be the perfect time to follow in the hoofprints of another Rich Ricci-owned mare. Following an injury to Faugheen, Annie Power stepped into the breach to win the 2016 Champion Hurdle in fine style.
Anzadam
Joe and Marie Donnelly’s Champion Hurdle dream doesn’t end with State Man’s injury. In Anzadam, the owners behind the yellow and black checked silks may have a ready-made replacement. Unbeaten in two starts in France when joining Mullins in January 2024, he has matched that record for his new trainer. Opening up with an impressive verdict over the talented Kala Conti at Fairyhouse, he added a second Grade 3 when sauntering to an 11-length victory in the Limestone Lad Hurdle.
He was touted as a potential Champion Hurdle contender on the back of that effort but ultimately missed the festival after suffering a setback. Set to return in the Morgiana Hurdle or Fighting Fifth Hurdle, he could be the new star on the two-mile hurdling scene.
Irancy
With nine previous wins, JP McManus tops the Champion Hurdle owner’s table. The Mullins-trained Irancy may be the horse most likely to take McManus into double figures in 2026. Another ex-French runner, the seven-year-old initially found the step into Grade 1 company too hot with a heavy defeat in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
However, he was flying by the end of the season with a win in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse, and a nine-length success in the Grade 1 KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown, with Salvator Mundi and Kopek Des Bordes among those in behind.
Mark Walsh and Irancy hand the Champion Trainer @WillieMullinsNH another winner at the top level, this time in the Grade 1 @KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle – his gelding flying home after travelling sweetly just off the pace pic.twitter.com/bZBEyqnXYQ
— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) April 29, 2025
Unsurprisingly, given her Cheltenham Festival credentials and Grade 1 wins, the early Champion Hurdle market favours Lossiemouth ahead of Anzadam and Irancy. Following the news of State Man’s injury, the Rich Ricci mare joined Dan Skelton’s The New Lion at the head of the betting.
