Lossiemouth and Paul Townend brought up a fourth Grade 1 victory of the day for Willie Mullins and a second for owner Rich Ricci in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle on Thursday.

Her success followed Grade 1 wins for stable companions Impaire Et Passe, Murcia and Gaelic Warrior, helping Mullins to close the gap on Dan Skelton in the British trainers' championship though Skelton still holds a substantial lead.

Skelton remains at the head of affairs by some way, but Mullins has already overtaken Henderson to rise to third in the table behind Nicholls and his hand in the National looks a strong one as reigning champion I Am Maximus is the current favourite and described by his trainer as “exactly where I want him”.

On winning the trainers’ title again, Mullins – whose British success last year was the first for an Irish-based handler since Vincent O’Brien in the 1950s – said: “I wouldn’t be worried if I was Dan, he seems to have the thing fairly solid at the moment.

“I can’t see us winning it unless we win the Grand National and Dan has a complete flop, which doesn’t happen.

“We had an extraordinary year last year and we’re a lot more behind this year.”

Patrick Mullins, who is assistant to his father, added: “It’s a good start and the Grand National is going to be the key, but that’s a long way away yet.

“He’s prepared for it, we’re not all guns blazing like last year but in case something won the Grand National, we’ve enough here that we can’t say we left it behind if that’s the case.”

When Skelton – who also had a four-timer, albeit of runner-up finishes – was asked if he was starting to feel the pressure, he said: “Not at this point, no. We’ll see how the next couple of days go and we’ll see about the Grand National, but not at the moment. I’m not worried yet."

Feature race

In the day's feature race, Lossiemouth sat in fifth position for much of the race, just behind Constitution hill, with Tellherthename and Kielan Woods setting an even pace in front.

The race began to change shape at the third last hurdle when Wodhooh and Take No Chances moved up alongside the leader with Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill looking for room in behind.

However, at the second last hurdle, Constitution Hill repeated his Cheltenham Festival mishap taking a fall. Thankfully he galloped away sound and jockey Nico de Boinville got to his feet shortly after.

Wodhooh gave Lossiemouth a run for her money going to the line but couldn't keep up with the grey mare pulling away to win by two and three-quarter lengths.

Disappointing

Willie Mullins said: “I was disappointed that Constitution Hill fell - I’m disappointed for Michael [Buckley], for connections, Nicky and Nico, and disappointed for racing as well. We came here with our mare in good shape, and we thought the trip would suit us on the day. We never got to find out, really.

“I was wondering whether Paul had got there too soon, and had he run his race, maybe. Nico has a great habit of looking under pressure and then finding a bit in the last furlong, so oftentimes you think you have Nico beaten and he has a little bit up his sleeve. I wondered at the time, had Paul played the card too early? But it was gifted to him and what can you do?

“I imagine she’ll go to Punchestown, if she comes out of this alright. That’s her normal plan. State Man will be going for the Champion Hurdle there and we’d probably keep them apart.”

Winning jockey Paul Townend said: : “Lovely mare. The second ran a brilliant race as well. Two and a half miles here was ideal for her. The ground was lively enough - it’s drying out every minute of the day, I’d say, but she coped with it well. I think I saw Nico walking away and Constitution Hill ok, so I can celebrate now.

“She can look as though she’s running a bit keen, but she was going nowhere in third and I wasn’t going to pass anyone who was going to pass me back. She’s slick with her jumping - she fell very uncharacteristically at Leopardstown, but you can trust her. The best ones just maybe need reminding that they too can end up on the floor. You’d trust her with your life. It’s been an incredible day - it only feels like yesterday we were in Cheltenham, and the team we left at home obviously did a brilliant job in keeping the horses fresh and well.”

Delighted

Gordon Elliott, trainer of the runner-up Take No Chances said: “I’m very happy with that. Absolutely delighted. She ran a great race. I’m very proud of her. She’s a great mare and she runs her race every day.”

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Constitution Hill, said: Henderson: “To do it twice - you couldn’t believe it really. He is genuinely the best jumper you’ll ever see. But in that vocabulary there’s just that one percent chance of doing what he’s done and he’s done it twice. It does worry you, of course it does, but how can you iron it out?

“Today he’d been fantastic the whole way. At a couple of hurdles when he needed to he was shortening up and that’s what we’ve been trying to get him to do, but when you are racing like that three out you can’t afford to do that, you’ve got to go, and maybe he came up too soon.”

Asked if he Constitution Hill might be better running free in front than held up, as in the Supreme and the Champion Hurdle, Henderson replied: “His least impressive win was actually here over two and a half, where I think we made all. We just wanted to get him to relax but I think next time …….. (I can’t make this bit out)

Will he still go to Punchestown?: “We were sort of starting to discuss it. I would personally have said yes. Those hurdles will suit him better.”