The winningest trainer at the Cheltenham Festival did not declare Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle to run her instead in the Mares’ Hurdle, to the dismay of backers
Willie Mullins has performed a huge u-turn on a plan that was two years in the making.
Since Lossiemouth captured the Triumph Hurdle in 2023, her long term goal has been the Champion Hurdle, according to her trainer. She returned to Cheltenham last year to capture the Mares’ Hurdle under Paul Townend, going off the 8-13 favourite.
After the race Mullins signalled his aim for 2025 when he declared, “Lossiemouth is a Champion Hurdle mare.”
She began the season defeating Teahupoo in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle in December but her campaign has not gone to plan since.
Lossiemouth was defeated by Constitution Hill, returning from a 12 month absence, in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and then fell early in the Irish Champion Hurdle, won in a canter by stablemate State Man.
The trainer suggested the grey mare could have been distracted by seagulls when she exited the Leopardstown race at the fourth flight.
Even afterwards he was sticking to the plan, telling the media in February, “We’re going for the Champion Hurdle with Lossiemouth. We’ve been training her for this for two years and I don’t think my owner has ever said ‘let’s think about it’.”
However, owner Rich Ricci and Mullins have been thinking about it and they decided on Sunday to declare Lossiemouth in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle and not the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
Her absence leaves seven to contest the Champion Hurdle, the field headed by Constitution Hill, Brighterdaysahead and State Man. Golden Ace, the only horse to defeat Brighterdaysahead, tackles the Champion Hurdle instead of the Mares.
The change of plan did not go down well with punters, many of whom will have held ante-post vouchers on her in the Champion Hurdle.
Punters voiced their frustration on X with comments like “bottled it”, “disgrace”, “pathetic”.
Others said, “They wonder why attendance in decline. Another small odds on shot. ‘Horse racing olympics’.
“Disappointing hopefully going forward there will be a rule change at Cheltenham.”
“Love the mare but hope she gets stuffed in mares.”
