State Man triumphs after Lossiemouth falls

State Man won the Irish Champion Hurdle for the third year running after favourite Lossiemouth fell.

The 5-4 chance, ridden by Paul Townend for trainer Willie Mullins, was a comfortable victor from Daddy Long Legs, with their stablemate coming down midway through the race at Leopardstown.

Lossiemouth had been contesting the lead when falling heavily, and nearly bringing down State Man.

"It looked like it was going to be a hell of a race before that happened," said Mullins.

Lossiemouth got to his feet, as did jockey Danny Mullins, although he winced in pain afterwards.

State Man's victory sealed the second Dublin Racing Festival hat-trick for Townend and Willie Mullins after Galopin Des Champs won a third straight Irish Gold Cup on Saturday.

The pair were also on the mark earlier on Sunday when Ballyburn took the novice chase and Kopek Des Bordes won the novice hurdle by 13 lengths.

But Gaelic Warrior was a disappointing third in the Dublin Chase, in which El Fabiolo was an early faller as Danny Mullins rode Solness to victory for Joseph O'Brien from Marine Nationale.

State Man will next attempt to retain his Champion Hurdle title at the Cheltenham Festival in March, where the opposition this time is set to include 2023 winner Constitution Hill, who missed the race last year.