Sharjah one of the leading Morgiana Hurdle fancies at Punchestown on Sunday © Photo Healy Racing
Patrick Mullins has enjoyed some of the biggest days of his riding career aboard Sharjah and feels he “sets the benchmark” ahead of his bid for a third victory in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.
While perhaps lacking the stardust of some of the bigger names in the division, Sharjah has been a fantastic servant to his connections, with his two Morgiana verdicts supplemented by a Galway Hurdle triumph and four successive wins in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival.
The nine-year-old has also finished second in back-to-back renewals of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham behind Epatante and Honeysuckle respectively in 2020 and 2021 — and while he has been off the track since his latest Leopardstown win 11 months ago, his regular rider is expecting another bold showing on Sunday.
Mullins said: “It’s great to get back on him. He looked as good as ever last season and it was unfortunate to miss the spring with him — but I rode him in a schooling hurdle last week in Thurles and I was very happy and obviously he won this last year, so I can’t wait to be honest.
“If you look at his record since he won his first Matheson Hurdle, taking out his runs at the Dublin Racing Festival, when he’s on his A-game the only horse that can beat him really is Honeysuckle.
“He’s not getting any younger, but he’s not over-raced and for me he still sets the benchmark for the younger horses coming through before they can even think of Honeysuckle.
“I think the ground should be perfect — I don’t think anyone will have any issues with the ground.”
Sharjah is one of three runners for the record-breaking amateur’s father Willie, who has saddled 11 previous winners of the Morgiana including 10 of the last 11.
Stable jockey Paul Townend is aboard State Man who was a heavily-backed winner of the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in March before winning a Grade One novice event at Punchestown, while Danny Mullins partners the 2019 winner of this race, Saldier
“State Man is full of potential. He obviously won a handicap very well at Cheltenham and beat solid horses in his novice at Punchestown,” Mullins junior added.
“But like I said, this is a big step up. We’re hoping he can develop into a Champion Hurdle horse and this will let us know whether we’re right or wrong.
“Saldier has won a Morgiana and won a Galway Hurdle on his day and he might be best fresh. We’re very happy with him and there’s some great prize-money on offer, so he’ll take his chance.”
The Mullins trio are part of a five-strong field, with Noel Meade’s Jesse Evans and the Gordon Elliott-trained Teahupoo completing the field.
