State Man (9/4) emphatically won the battle of the three most recent Cheltenham Champion Hurdlers today, landing Punchestown’s Boodles Hurdle from March-heroine Golden Ace , with one-time great Constitution Hill (8/13f) suffering a heavy defeat.

Golden Ace was the sole finisher of the trio in Cheltenham’s March renewal, where State Man was clear when falling at the final flight, and Constitution Hill having fallen at halfway.

In today’s race - run in front of a record 42,138 attendance, State Man and Paul Townend made all, jumped well and won in a thoroughly straightforward manner, impressively beating Golden Ace by 4.75 lengths, to land the race for a third consecutive year.

In total contrast, Constitution Hill — who had also fallen at Aintree last month and was recently schooled over fences, had a slow ‘side-ways’ start, ballooned the first jump and weakened tamely from the third-last. The star of 2023 eventually finishing on the wrong leg, in a disappointed fifth.

State Man’s trainer Willie Mullins commented “it’s the performance we always thought he had in him. In fairness to Constitution Hill I think he didn’t turn up on the day: it’s very hard to travel from England after having two falls and things just didn’t go right for him.

“Our fella has run his true race and that’s been a constant thing in his racing life, he always turns up and runs his race.

“He’s just very genuine without ever being flashy. I think the cheekpieces have made him a bit flashier than he used to be. He’s a lazy horse and cheekpieces just help him.

“I think we were all waiting for this contest and it delivered. We’re just delighted.”

Jockey Townend added “I’m really happy for the horse as I love him and, I suppose, I’ve been getting a different feel from him - from what visually he has looked like all along. It was probably the best he has ever jumped and the cheekpieces definitely help him when he is out in front.

“I had one or two little looks around (mid-race) but sometimes you can get too much information, so went out with faith in the horse.”

Quotes from Gary Carson