Nobody thought that we would see State Man, Lossiemouth, and Brighterdaysahead going head to head so early in the season, but to everyone’s amazement and delight, we see it this weekend.

Let’s not waste more time as we get into my Unibet Morgiana Hurdle runner by runner betting guide and the best online horse racing bookmakers to place your Morgiana Hurdle bet.

Unibet Morgiana Hurdle runner by runner betting guide

Now it’s time to take a in-dept looking into runners of the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle and the best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.

🏇 5 State Man

• Age: 7
• Weight: 11st 12lb
• Form: 11111-
• Rating: 169
• Jockey: Paul Townend
• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Odds: 5/6

State Man, the reigning Champion Hurdler and ten-time Grade 1 winner makes his eagerly anticipated return today as he looks to win his third Morgiana Hurdle.

The only horse to ever beat him in open company has been Constitution Hill, and it’s ridiculous to think that State Man still doesn’t get the credit he deserves with so many Grade 1 wins on his CV.

He will never put in a breathtaking performance because he only ever does what he needs to do to win.

On the flip side, he comes up against two of the most exciting mare in training today.

Everything points to State Man being able to win, but he has to lose in Ireland at some point. But will today be that day?

Given his top-class record, I find it hard to back against him. He sets a massive standard that Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead must reach.

✅ Reigning Champion Hurdler
✅ Unbeaten in Ireland in open company
✅ Uncomplicated

❌ He doesn’t have any negatives

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐎 Bet on State Man with talkSPORT BET 🐎

🏇 8 Lossiemouth

• Age: 5
• Weight: 11st 5lb
• Form: 1/111-
• Rating: 156
• Jockey: Patrick Mullins
• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Odds: 5/2

What can you say about Lossiemouth other than that she is a superstar?

This grey daughter of Great Pretender has been near faultless since joining Willie Mullins. Her only defeat came at the 2023 Dublin Racing Festival, where she chopped off at a vital stage and could not run down Gala Marceau.

After that, it has been plain sailing, with four Grade 1 wins.

For me, she can be a champion hurdle contender.

Lossiemouth travels with ease throughout her races and is foot-perfect over her hurdles. She has also shown that she can perform on the biggest stage of them all and has that extra stamina reserve to call upon when needed.

I expect her to put it up to State Man and give him a proper race, but I see her having to settle for a second bet today.

That is not to say that after today, she can not go and beat State Man in the near future.

I think the world of Lossiemouth, and she can go close to beating State Man today with her seven-pound allowance being a massive help.

✅ Superstar mare
✅ Gets seven pounds off State Man
✅ Uncomplicated

❌ First run against a proper Grade 1 gelding

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐎 Bet on Lossiemouth with BetMGM 🐎

🏇 7 Brighterdaysahead

• Age: 5
• Weight: 11st 5lb
• Form: 1121-1
• Rating: 153
• Jockey: Jack Kennedy
• Trainer: Gordon Elliott
• Odds: 9/2

This race is like the gift that keeps on given.

Now we have another potential superstar mare in our midst with Brighterdaysahead.

This big, strapping mare has only tasted defeat once, and that was in a tactical Mares Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival that was not run to suit her. It turned into a sprint, and she couldn’t reel in Golden Ace, who got the first run on her.

She made up for that with a breathtaking win at Aintree at the end of the season.

As Gordon Elliott likes to unleash some of his stars at Down Royal at the start of the season, Brighterdaysahead comes in here on the back of a win over 2m1f.

She will come forward a lot for that run, but I don’t see her as a two-mile hurdler.

She will not have gone this fast over hurdles before, and we all know that she can flatten a hurdle, as seen at Down Royal. If that happens at this level, it’s game over.

As much as I know that she will be a superstar mare, I don’t see it being over this trip.

For one, I can’t see her being quick enough; for two, if she makes a bad mistake, she will not get away with it against State Man and Lossiemouth.

I hope I am wrong, but she is up against it over this trip.

✅ Massive potential
✅ Gets seven pounds off State Man

❌ I’m not convinced that two miles is her trip
❌ Needs to improve her hurdling

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐎 Bet on Brighterdaysahead with Spreadex 🐎

🏇 1 Daddy Long Legs

• Age: 5
• Weight: 11st 12lb
• Form: 1-5013
• Rating: 149
• Jockey: Michael O’Sullivan
• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Odds: 28/1

Daddy Long Legs was already put in his place by Brighterdaysahead at Down Royal when the race conditions were in his favour.

That day, he only had to concede one pound to Brighterdaysahead, but today, he must give her seven pounds, making his task of turning that form around nearly impossible.

Given that he is worse off at the weights, he faces a mammoth task here to reach the places.

✅ Has race fitness on his side

❌ Has already been put in his place by Brighterdaysahead on much better terms
❌ This is beyond him

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️

🐎 Bet on Daddy Long Legs with VBET 🐎

🏇 3 Sir Gerhard

• Age: 9
• Weight: 11st 12lb
• Form: 10134-
• Rating: 150
• Jockey: Danny Mullins
• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Odds: 40/1

It’s a case of what could have been with Sir Gerhard.

He is a hugely talented horse who has been running over trips ranging from two to three miles and, for me, spent a season too long over fences.

He is a top middle-distance hurdler who may still have a lot to offer this season.

This will be used as a stepping stone towards more suitable targets this season, and I would not be shocked if he popped up in a big handicap hurdle down the line.

For today, it will be a safe and clear round to blow away the cobwebs.

But if one of the top three fails to fire, they may resort to plan B and try to nick a place.

✅ If fully revved up, he could fight for minor honours
✅ High class on his day

❌ This will be used as a stepping stone for other targets

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐎 Bet on Sir Gerhard with Betfred 🐎

🏇 6 Winter Fog

• Age: 10
• Weight: 11st 12lb
• Form: 1-4143
• Rating: 150
• Jockey: Sean O’Keeffe
• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Odds: 50/1

Despite having had a reasonably successful summer/autumn, Winter Fog is out of his depth here.

When we last saw him, he was finishing over 16 lengths behind Daddy Long Legs, and that form gives him no hope here.

It is an easy pass-over.

✅ Race fit

❌ Has no chance in this field

Star rating: ⭐️

🐎 Bet on Winter Fog with Betano 🐎

🏇 4 Smooth Tom

• Age: 5
• Weight: 11st 12lb
• Form: 150-2U
• Rating: 130
• Jockey: Cian Quirke
• Trainer: Andrew Slattery
• Odds: 100/1

Smooth Tom has a nice career ahead of him, but it will not be in Grade 1s.

You have to admire Andrew Slattery for trying a Grade 1 at the start of the season, but on ratings, he has to find 39 pounds with State Man, which tells you his chances here.

✅ Race fit

❌ Has no chance in this field

Star rating: ⭐️

🐎 Bet on Smooth Tom with bet365 🐎

🏇 No Looking Back

• Age: 6
• Weight: 11st 12lb
• Form: 3/P-2P
• Rating: 132
• Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe
• Trainer: Oliver McKiernan
• Odds: 150/1

No Looking Back is something that Darragh O’Keeffe will not be doing here.

He has had three goes at Grade 1s and has not been sighted in either.

A safe round and a nice day out are the best that connections can hope for here.

✅ There are none

❌ Has no chance in this field

Star rating: ⭐️

🐎 Bet on No Looking Back with Sky Bet 🐎

Unibet Morhiana Hurdle verdict

You can’t get away from STATE MAN here. He is the benchmark they all have to reach, and until they do, you simply cannot oppose him.

It will be fascinating to see how close Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead can get to State Man, but when all is said and done, State Man should be claiming his third Morgiana Hurdle.

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