Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

HER presence in the race frustrated the many who believed she should have been running in the Champion Hurdle, but Lossiemouth did what she always does at Cheltenham and breezed to her most impressive Festival success by seven and a half lengths.

Supporters of the 4/6 favourite wouldn’t have shedded a bead of sweat watching Paul Townend creep around Prestbury Park on Susannah Ricci’s now triple Festival winner. She had far too much for stablemate Jade De Grugy in a record-extending 11th win in the race for Willie Mullins.

The fact State Man had worked better than her in a piece of work in the lead-up to the meeting seemingly impacted connections’ decision to run here, but that may well have been a sparkling piece of homework given how well her stable companion was running before his final-flight Champion Hurdle exit.

“As a trainer, and a professional, I didn’t see the work to run her in a Champion Hurdle, which disappointed me on the day, but we had the alternative to come here and that has worked,” explained Mullins. “You have to look at Rich Ricci’s team, which hasn’t had a great season this season. We all gauge ourselves by Cheltenham. I wasn’t sure he had a live chance of a winner, but she was a live chance of a winner so made the decision to change races. I was disappointed to change our mind on a two-year plan, but it was the correct decision for the connections. These owners that we have, and people that have runners here, it is all about coming here and having a winner.

“Paul wasn’t going to ride her in the Champion Hurdle and when Paul said he wasn’t going to ride her in the Champion Hurdle that was enough of a pointer for most people.

On what lies ahead, Mullins added: “If we want to see that battle, they can come to Ireland and take her on, or we might go for the Aintree Hurdle. I’d say she will probably race on for another season at least.”

Beaten reaction

Danny Mullins, rider of Jade De Grugy (second)

“Drying ground was probably a help to Lossiemouth, but that was near a career best from Jade De Grugy.”