2.20 2m. 5 Declared. Matheson H'dle (Grade 1) of €150,000.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €90,000.00 2nd - €30,000.00 3rd - €15,000.00 4th - €7,500.00 5th - €4,500.00
FormscanBy Michael Graham - A cracking race in which Willie Mullins holds a very strong hand. Sharjah is bidding to become the first five-time winner of this Grade 1 having landed the previous four renewals under Patrick Mullins. It doesn't pay to oppose the likeable nine-year-old gelding, but it appears a tough task for him to beat his stablemate, STATE MAN. This five-year-old is really cutting a swathe through the hurdling ranks in winning the Grade 3 County Hurdle at last season's Cheltenham Festival before emphatically landing the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. He resumed his career in style in beating Sharjah by four lengths in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown last month. Mullins also saddles Vauban and the Triumph Hurdle winner is an intriguing runner on seasonal debut. He has won his last three contests at the highest level yet is only third in the betting, at the time of writing, which shows the depth in this race.
A hurdle for four years old and upwardsWeights - 11st 12lbs Mares allowed 7lbs