12.00 2m. 21 Declared. Leopardstown M'dn H'dle of €15,000.00 4-y-o
1st - €9,000.00 2nd - €3,000.00 3rd - €1,500.00 4th - €750.00 5th - €450.00 6th - €300.00
FormscanBy Alan Magee - STATE MAN can get the Leopardstown Christmas Festival meeting off to a good start for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. The half-brother to stablemate and recent Royal Bond Novice Hurdle winner Statuaire beat all bar Busselton - Grade 1 placed over hurdles and successful three times over fences - on his only start at Auteuil last year. The other Mullins runner Hercule Du Seuil has a similar profile and it will be interesting to see how strong they are in the market. Jack Kennedy makes a welcome return aboard Hiaou and the son of Saddler Maker also made a promising start when third to Eric Bloodaxe in a Naas maiden hurdle.
A hurdle for four years old only, maidens at startingWeights - 11st 9lbs Fillies allowed 7lbs