State Man claimed a second Matheson Hurdle as trainer Willie Mullins ended the Leopardstown Christmas Festival with three victories on the final day.
Paul Townend guided State Man, who remains unbeaten in Ireland, to victory ahead of stablemate Impaire Et Passe.
The victory underlined State Man’s status as the nearest challenger to Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill.
Mullins also tasted victory through Ballyburn and Grangeclare West.
Grangeclare West claimed dominant Grade One honours in the Novice Chase while Ballyburn will go into Cheltenham as a clear favourite after winning the Novices’ Hurdle.
“State Man showed tremendous gears today,” Mullins told RTE Sport. “Daryl [Jacob] came in on Impaire Et Passe and he said ‘we quickened twice and then Paul quickened away again a third time’.
“Daryl thought he maybe had Paul where he wanted him at the second-last and he said he quickened twice between the last two and Paul went away again.
“Testing conditions might really suit him [State Man], so we will be praying for rain over Cheltenham.”