Unibet Morgiana Hurdle: runner-by-runner guide and tip

The good news for those hoping to dent Willie Mullins’ domination of the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle is that he has resisted running all six of the runners he left in the race earlier this week.

But the bad news is that he still has three live contenders as he seeks to win the Grade One feature for the twelfth time since 2011.

Here’s a guide to the five runners on what is a fascinating card. Watch all the action on Racing TV and remember, if you are not a member, Sunday is the last opportunity to snap up a free month trial.

Trainer: Noel Meade. Official Rating: 147. Odds: 33-1

Likeable type but he was subdued on the Flat last time, when possibly not handling the heavy ground, and he’s got bundles to find on ratings. Best chance of springing a surprise would be if they went no gallop and it turns into a sprint, but that seems unlikely.

Trainer: Willie Mullins. Official Rating: 161. Odds: 16-1

Scooped this prize three years ago under Danny Mullins, having also won a Grade One prize here as a four-year-old in 2018. Showed his fire had not gone out when landing a fiercely competitive Galway Hurdle (off a mark of 155) last year but his final three efforts of last season were all lacklustre and he begins this campaign with something to prove. Has been successful when making the running and it will be no surprise if Mullins opts to dictate the pace.

Trainer: Willie Mullins. Official Rating: 162. Odds: 2-1

“The silence is deafening” said commentator Jerry Hannon as Sharjah defeated Faugheen in the 2018 running of this race. He’s since added five more Grade One wins to his CV, including this race again last year, plus he chased home Honeysuckle in last year’s Champion Hurdle. Absent since winning the Matheson Hurdle for the fourth successive season 11 months ago but pleased his rider in a schooling hurdle at Thurles last week and has gone well fresh. The niggle is whether, rising 10, he retains all his powers.

Trainer: Willie Mullins. Official Rating: 159. Odds: 5-6 fav

The new kid on the block among his trainer’s trio, quoted between 7-1 and 10-1 for the Champion Hurdle. He was having only his third start for the yard when winning the County Hurdle, off a mark of 141, at Cheltenham in March, before taking the jump to Grade One company in his stride at Punchestown (2m 3f). This asks more him – his two stablemates are officially superior - but he's exciting and there could be plenty more in his locker.

Trainer: Gordon Elliott. Official Rating: 158. Odds: 10-1

Won six of his first seven races, albeit kept away from the best, but he trailed home last in the Champion Hurdle and then failed to make any impact at the Festival here the following month. It will be no surprise if he resumes his progress this term, having had the chance to recharge his batteries, but perhaps it is no coincidence that most of his wins have been achieved on heavy ground. Has made the running and would not want this turning into a dash.

The potential of STATE MAN is hard to resist, and he can deny Sharjah a third win in this race.

1 STATE MAN. 2 SHARJAH. 3 SALDIER. 4 TEAHUPOO. 5 JESSE EVANS.