2023 Morgiana Hurdle Tips - Is State Man worth taking on at Punchestown?

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: Thu 23 Nov 2023 15:07

Share

Jon Vine 23 Nov 2023

Share this article

Odds and predictions for the 2023 Morgiana Hurdle
This Grade One takes place at Punchestown on Saturday 25th November
We're backing Echoes In Rain against hot-favourite State Man

Expired

Paul Townend riding State Man (yellow) clear the last to win The Paddy Power Champion Hurdle at Punchestown. (Getty)

The first Grade One race for hurdlers in Ireland takes place at Punchestown on Saturday, as a select field enters the Morgiana Hurdle. This year, the Morgiana Hurdle and John Durkan Chase cards have been moved to the same weekend, meaning Irish fans have an action-packed two-day meeting to sink their teeth into.

Here's our free guide to the 2023 Morgiana Hurdle, including our best betting tips.

2023 Morgiana Hurdle Odds

You can find the full betting for the 2023 Morgiana Hurdle here on our website...

2023 Morgiana Hurdle Tips - Echoes In Rain

State Man was the dominant force in Ireland over hurdles last season. No-one got within four lengths of Willie Mullins' star in last season's Morgiana, Savills Hurdle or the Irish Champion Hurdle and it was a similar story at Punchestown in April, where State Man comfortably saw off Vauban by three lengths.

Mullins will now set State Man the unenviable task of attempting to replicate those heroics and bridge the gap with Constitution Hill, who beat him by nine lengths in the Champion Hurdle. Willie has also decided to keep Impaire Et Passe over hurdles, so State Man will need to maintain his form if he wants to remain Mullins' go-to hurdler over two miles.

At 1/3, the favourite is hardly a betting proposition. Fills D'Oudairies isn't up to this standard and Pied Piper was swatted away with impunity by State Man on three occasions last season.

The main competition to the market leader could come from his own stable, as the mercurial ECHOES IN RAIN (11/2) has been entered up. Mullins' mare will be nice and fit after a solid season on the flat, having twice placed in pattern races over 12 and 16 furlongs.

Punchestown has been the scene of Echoes In Rain's two best performances over hurdles. Willie's seven-year-old beat the boys to win the Grade One for novices here in 2021 and trounced her fellow mares by nine lengths to collect her second Grade One back in April.

Echoes In Rain ran up to an RPR of 158 that day, over a trip that many would argue is a little further than ideal. If she could run up to a similar level on Sunday, then State Man will need to replicate the performances he produced last season just to hold his stablemate at bay. If he's a little undercooked, Echoes In Rain could pounce.

Live Stream

If you plan on watching any of Saturday's races from Punchestown live on a mobile device, then check out our Morgiana Hurdle Live Stream page.

Verdict

2023 Morgiana Hurdle

State Man will take plenty of beating, but Echoes In Rain has run up to a very high level herself and Mullins' second-string will be fit after a solid flat season. She appeals most in the betting.

Echoes In Rain

2023 Morgiana Hurdle Tips

@11/2 - 10 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad

Bet at bet365