Willie Mullins Hit by Major Setback as State Man Sidelined
Elle
Nov 21st 2025
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Willie Mullins has lost his major setback, State Man, for the entire season after the horse suffered a tendon injury, just before the new National Hunt season was to start.
The biggest drawback is only a few days away from the Cheltenham November Meeting, which is considered the winter jumps season’s unofficial start. State Man, the one shining brightest among the many stars of the Closutton stable that Mullins is running, was getting ready for another great year, with him being absolutely determined to go to the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
In the last couple of years, the eight-year-old has been a steady and reliable source of great performances, as shown by his admirable record of 14 wins from 20 starts and a lifetime prize money of more than £1.5 million. As a matter of fact, his most recent win was at the Punchestown Champion Hurdle this past March, which, in effect, was a stamp of renewal for his status as one of the top-level athletes.
However, Mullins confirmed that he won’t be able to count on his top hurdler for the next season as a result of a tendon injury during a training session. Mullins expressed his regret over the turn of events saying, “Unfortunately, State Man has injured a tendon on the gallops here. He’ll be out for the rest of the season for sure.”
This announcement is a big blow, not only for Mullins, but also for owner Rich Ricci, who has been very successful with State Man during the last couple of years. The animal has been among the handful of ones that have been able to put up a fight to the very best, thus, it was also the case of the Ricci’s stablemates and past champions who have dominated hurdling.
State Man has been a model of consistency since he came into Mullins’ yard. His impressive win in the County Hurdle at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival was the first time he really made people take notice. He then went on to become a top-class performer, winning Grade 1 races in Ireland and eventually making his name one of the most dominant hurdlers in the game.
One of His performances comes to mind when we speak of the Irish Champion Hurdle and the Punchestown Festival, where his bright jumping and dependable change of pace were simply dazzling. Most of the time, he had to fight hard in the shadows of Mullins’ super famous mare Honeysuckle and after that Constitution Hill, but State Man still managed to make his own history by being absolutely steady and of great discipline.
He is the Irish trainer who has been in recent years the main figure of the Irish and British National Hunt and is familiar with the situation of dealing with major setbacks. Injuries are part of the unfortunate side of racing, especially when it is top horses that are trained to deliver at the highest level. Even so, the departure of a show like State Man is a great difficulty to be able to get over.
State Man was anticipated to compete at Cheltenham in March 2026, where he was going to challenge the best hurdlers in the sport again. Without his participation, the list of the major setbacks and tragedies of the next season is crowned. Besides, in a major setback, it will probably affect the gamblers’ markets, as well as it will be less certain who will stand out among the new contenders.
From now on, waiting patiently will have to be the main tactic for the connections. Tendon injuries are generally considered to be some of the toughest, most matter-of-fact in the case of a racing situation, thus they are characterized by long, gradual recoveries and major setbacks. So, the emphasis is going to be on his rehab instead of horse racing, and the team is very much resolved not to experience any more unfortunate incidents in the recovery period.
Though the near future is still up in the air, Mullins is firm in his belief that State Man will be able to make a comeback and be at his best again when the time comes. If his recovery from this significant impairment is complete, his talent and past achievements indicate that he might even be the main influencer of the hurdling division again.
The newest twist in this major setback is a cautionary tale of the tremendous unpredictability of such a sport. The gravest of misfortunes can happen even in the lives of the most triumphant trainers and the most experienced veterans of the game. The mischance of State Man points up the tiny margin that separates thorough preparation from actual involvement at the highest level of play.
Despite the disappointment, supporters of Mullins’ yard will take heart from his deep pool of talent. Horses such as Impaire Et Passe and Lossiemouth could now be asked to step up in his absence, keeping the Closutton operation firmly in contention across all major setback festivals.
As the season begins without one of its biggest stars, attention will now turn to how Mullins reorganizes his powerful team. For State Man, the focus is recovery, with hopes that this enforced break will pave the way for a full return to horse racing in future seasons.
He is only eight years old, so time is still with him. Fans of racing will certainly wish that this big misfortune is merely a short one and that the end has not come for one of the most popular hurdlers of the last few years.
