I suppose there was an inevitably about State Man being retired, given he missed last season and is not getting any younger.
He had quite a career. Hacked up in a County Hurdle when chucked in (and wouldn’t be allowed to run now), chased home an all time great (at least in that year) in a Champion Hurdle, won it the following year when arguably not at his best, and then fell with a second title at his mercy (I don’t believe for a second that Golden Ace would have overtaken him). And that is before mentioning all his Grade 1s in Ireland.
He was a fine servant to his connections and I hope he gets to have the long retirement he deserves.