Willie Mullins Confirms Lossiemouth's Champion Hurdle Target at Cheltenham Festival
Trainer Willie Mullins has officially announced that Lossiemouth will compete in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next week, ending speculation over the star mare's target. The seven-year-old arrived in Cheltenham on Saturday evening, with connections opting to fit cheekpieces for the first time ahead of Tuesday's prestigious race.
Decision Made After Owner Discussions
After discussions on Saturday evening, Mullins and owner Rich Ricci agreed that the time was right for Lossiemouth to take her chance in the two-mile championship contest. "Rich and I have been in dialogue on her target," Mullins told Sporting Life via Racing TV. "After we spoke after racing at Gowran it has been decided that Lossiemouth will run in the Champion Hurdle."
Lossiemouth had also been entered in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, where she could have chased a hat-trick after winning the event last year. However, she will now have a first crack at Tuesday's feature race instead. "With the declaration timing she was always going to travel over to England when she has and we're happy to let her take her chance on Tuesday where she'll wear cheekpieces," Mullins added.
Market Position and Key Competitors
Lossiemouth is currently priced at 11/4 for the Champion Hurdle, with Dan Skelton's The New Lion heading the market at a general 15/8. The race will also feature Irish Champion Hurdle winner Brighterdaysahead, with trainer Gordon Elliott stating: "She's going to be based at Olly Murphy's yard. She's in good form and we're looking forward to it. I'm hopeful more than confident."
Setback for Galopin Des Champs
In other news from the Mullins stable, dual Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs will not run at this year's Cheltenham Festival due to a setback. "Unfortunately, Galopin Des Champs has been ruled out for the rest of the season," Mullins confirmed. "After working very well on Thursday morning he wasn't right on Friday morning and will miss the Gold Cup and the other spring Festivals."
The Cheltenham Festival remains one of the most anticipated events in the racing calendar, with the famous Gold Cup scheduled as the fifth race on Friday, March 13th. The confirmation of Lossiemouth's participation adds significant excitement to the Champion Hurdle, promising a thrilling contest among top contenders.
