2023 Matheson Hurdle Tips

State Man sets a strong benchmark when it comes to the Matheson Hurdle, with Willie Mullins training a runner who won’t be easily beaten and that is reflected in the latest betting odds. The horse was last seen performing well at Punchestown when winning the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle over two miles, half a furlong.

Previously to this, there was a victory at the same track when beating Vauban in the Irish Champion Hurdle after running second to Constitution Hill at the Cheltenham Festival. It’s hard to see how the horse will be defeated here, although Impaire Et Passe could give his stablemate something to think about.

The five-year-old achieved five consecutive wins before lining up at Fairyhouse in early December, with the runner finishing second in the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle when being sent off as the 4/5 favourite. The horse was beaten by a length by Teahupoo, although there had previously been wins at Cheltenham and Punchestown.

Beating Gaelic Warrior by six and a half lengths was an impressive feat at the Festival and the horse was then able to oblige in the Champion Novice Hurdle. Echoes In Rain is the third Mullins runner who merits respect and the horse has five lengths to find on State Man after the pair ran against each other at Punchestown.

2022 Matheson Hurdle Tips

State Man was a warm order in the McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, with the five year old obliging as the 11/4 favourite. This was followed by a really impressive performance in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown, with the horse seeing off Flame Bearer and Three Stripe Life.

More recently, we saw State Man line up in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle where he was able to beat three other rivals and that included Sharjah. However, the Willie Mullins runner is the model of consistency and the horse was the winner of the 2021 Matheson Hurdle when being sent off as the odds-on favourite.

Constitution Hill is currently among the betting favourites for this encounter although last year’s Supreme Novice Hurdle winner isn’t likely to be targeted at this race, with Vauban a more likely runner. The four-year-old has been victorious in his previous three encounters and the latest victory came in a four-year-old hurdle at Punchestown.

Pied Piper represents the best chance for trainer Gordon Elliott and the four-year-old has landed a double win already this season. There was a victory at Cheltenham Racecourse and that was over two miles in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle, while another outing at Down Royal could serve as the perfect warm-up.

Who Are the Betting Favourites to Win 2020 Matheson Hurdle?

Saint Roi is currently the market leader to score a triumph in this race and there’s plenty to like about the Willie Mullins-trained charge, with the five-year-old having enjoyed two runs this season and it kicked off with a victory at Tipperary before finishing second in a four-horse race against Abacadabras in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle.

This performance won’t inspire much confidence among punters, although Saint Roi has previously demonstrated his class when winning the Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival and there could be more to come from a horse who is highly rated by Mullins.

Abacadabras has already beaten Saint Roi once this season and there’s plenty of evidence to indicate that the Gordon Elliott-trained charge will go close again in the Matheson Hurdle, with the horse having finished second to Shishkin in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Since then, there has been a second-placed finish in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal before winning the Morgiana and we would say this represents the best each-way bet in the race.

Aspire Tower Bidding to Follow Up Down Royal Win

Aspire Tower is clearly a talented four-year-old and the Henry de Bromhead-trained charge has already proved plenty during his short career, with that victory at Down Royal suggesting the horse is extremely progressive and this could be the last time to back the runner at a big price.

There was a fine performance in the JCB Triumph Hurdle when finishing second to Burning Victory and the bookies are treading cautiously with their betting odds about a horse who could prove to be a superstar.

The History of the Matheson Hurdle

The Matheson Hurdle has been in operation since 1986 and it’s a race which has been won by some legendary horses including Istabraq and Hurricane Fly who both claimed four victories in this race and it’s a feat that few runners are likely to emulate.

Sharjah has won the 2018 and 2019 renewals of the Matheson Hurdle and the horse could be about to line up for a consecutive hat-trick of victories, with this race also known as the December Festival Hurdle and it’s one of the racing highlights in the Irish calendar.