Cheltenham Board Member Demands End to Mares' Hurdle 'Cop Out'
Leading owner and Cheltenham board member Max McNeill has issued a strong call for the Cheltenham Festival to end what he describes as a "nonsense" system that allows the best mares to avoid the Champion Hurdle. McNeill argues that the current setup provides an easy "cop out" for top female horses, frustrating both punters and racegoers who want to see the highest quality competition in the festival's premier hurdles.
Frustration Over Top Mares Avoiding Champion Hurdle
McNeill specifically pointed to the situation surrounding Lossiemouth, the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old who has won the Mares' Hurdle in both 2024 and 2025 while swerving the Champion Hurdle. The mare recently suffered defeat to Gordon Elliott's Brighterdaysahead in the Irish Champion Hurdle eight days ago, yet remains William Hill's even-money favourite to secure a hat-trick in the Mares' Hurdle, which has been moved from Tuesday to Thursday for the 2026 festival.
"The confusion over which race these mares are going to is nonsense," McNeill stated emphatically. "I think we need to know now. The racing public, the punters, are getting fed up with it and they want to see the best horses in the Champion Hurdle - not have a cop-out in an easier Grade 1."
Proposed Solutions for Competitive Racing
The prominent owner, who also owns Turners Novices' Hurdle favourite No Drama This End, proposed specific changes to ensure top-rated mares like the 159-rated Lossiemouth contest the Champion Hurdle rather than the Mares' Hurdle. McNeill suggested either reclassifying the Mares' Hurdle as a Grade 2 race or introducing a ratings restriction that would prevent elite horses from competing in it.
"With a Grade 2, if Lossiemouth is going to run she needs to carry a Grade 1 penalty, or you make it a 0-150," McNeill explained. "That's my view - it's just my opinion - and I think we need to change that, because we all want competitive racing."
Historical Precedent and Current Concerns
The Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle has increasingly become the preferred option for top female hurdlers in recent years, with past Champion Hurdle winners Honeysuckle and Epatante both targeting the race instead of the Tuesday feature. This trend has created what McNeill describes as "a bit of a cloud" over the festival's competitive integrity.
McNeill believes the situation requires immediate attention to maintain the prestige of both races and ensure spectators witness the most compelling matchups possible. His comments come as the racing community prepares for the 2026 festival, with the Mares' Hurdle's schedule change adding another layer to the ongoing discussion about race placement and competition quality.
Weekend Racing Highlights
Meanwhile, in other racing news from the weekend, Staffordshire Knot led home a Gordon Elliott-saddled 1-2-3 finish in the Grade 2 William Hill Boyne Hurdle at Navan. The 11-10 favourite beat stablemates Better Days Ahead and Maxxum in an impressive display of training prowess.
Additionally, Oscars Brother delivered another dominant performance in the William Hill Racing Bet Builder Ten Up Novice Chase. Racing for the first time in JP McManus's famous silks after being purchased following his Florida Pearl Novice Chase victory, the Connor King-trained horse was sent off as the 6-4 favourite and never saw any of his three rivals, opening up a wide margin by halfway before strolling to a six-length victory over The Wallpark.
Bookmakers responded immediately to the performance, with Paddy Power cutting Oscars Brother's odds for the Brown Advisory Novices Chase at Cheltenham from 12-1 to 8-1. The horse also holds an entry for the Grand National later in the season, opening up multiple prestigious options for his connections.
