Ridden by Paul Townend, the classy mare was winning for the third time at the festival, having also win the JCB Triumph Hurdle in 2023.

The daughter of Great Pretender was a seven and a half length winner over stable companion Jade De Grugy (5/1) and Danny Mullins.

When asked about the decision to reroute Lossiemouth to the Mares’ Hurdle  instead of the initial plan, the Unibet Champion Hurdle, Willie Mullins explained:

“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.

“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.

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This year is the 18th running of the race, which Irish trainers have dominated since its inception – 14 of the 17 previous winners were trained in Ireland.

A Grade 1 race since 2015, the Mares’ Hurdle was won an incredible six consecutive years by Quevega, bettering the previous Cheltenham Festival record of five consecutive wins held by Golden Miller (1932 to 1936).

Willie Mullins has won 10 of the 17 editions of the race to date and saddles the favourite and last season’s winner, Lossiemouth, and second favourite in the betting, Jade De Grugy.

While the early season plan had been to contest the opening day feature, the Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle, with Lossiemouth, connections of the grey mare decided last weekend to stick to her won sex in the almost two and a half-mile contest.

Jade De Grugy and Gala Marceau will carry the colours of Scottish owner Kenny Alexander, who previously won this race twice with Honeysuckle (2020 and 2023).

3:20pm Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y

1 Casa No Mento 7 11 5 LRK Racing & Willy Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies
2 Dysart Enos (IRE) 7 11 5 The Good Stock Syndicate Fergal O’Brien Jonathan Burke
3 Gala Marceau (FR) h 6 11 5 Mr K. Alexander W. P. Mullins Brian Hayes
4 Jade de Grugy (FR) 6 11 5 Mr K. Alexander W. P. Mullins Danny Mullins
5 Jetara (IRE) p 7 11 5 Mr G. McGrath Mrs J. Harrington Sam Ewing
6 Joyeuse (FR) 6 11 5 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
7 July Flower (FR) 6 11 5 Mr Duncan Angove Henry de Bromhead Rachael Blackmore
8 Kala Conti (FR) 5 11 5 Robcour Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
9 Lossiemouth (FR) 6 11 5 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins P. Townend
10 Queens Gamble (IRE) 7 11 5 Mr A Frost and Mr E Galvin Harry Derham Paul O’Brien
11 Take No Chances (IRE) 7 11 5 Mr Garry Wilson Dan Skelton Harry Skelton

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Lossiemouth will skip a high-profile clash with Constitution Hill and Brighterdaysahead in Tuesday’s Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival 2025, after connections confirmed her switch to the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle on the same day.

The Willie Mullins-trained mare is already a dual Festival winner, landing the Mares’ Hurdle in 2024 and the Triumph Hurdle in 2023. While she had been on course for a Champion Hurdle bid throughout the season, a recent heavy fall in the Irish Champion Hurdle forced a rethink. On Sunday morning, owners Rich and Susannah Ricci opted to target a second Mares’ crown.

Champion Hurdle Set for Seven-Runner Showdown

Lossiemouth’s absence leaves a seven-runner field for the Champion Hurdle, headlined by reigning champion State Man, who sports first-time cheekpieces. The unbeaten Constitution Hill, trained by Nicky Henderson, remains the odds-on favourite, while Gordon Elliott’s rising star Brighterdaysahead adds further class to the lineup.

Golden Ace, trained by Jeremy Scott, has been rerouted from the Mares’ to the Champion, joining Burdett Road, King Of Kingsfield, and Winter Fog in Tuesday’s feature.

Lossiemouth Odds-On for Mares’ Hurdle Repeat

Lossiemouth is favourite to land back-to-back wins in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, where 11 runners have been declared. Her stablemate Jade De Grugy is second in the betting for what looks like another strong renewal.

Mullins Dominates Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Willie Mullins will run six of the 12 declared for the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, with Kopek Des Bordes heading the market and wearing a first-time hood. Paul Townend takes the ride, with other Mullins runners including Funiculi Funicula, Irancy, Karbau, Karniquet, and Salvator Mundi.

Other key runners include William Munny, Romeo Coolio, and British hope Tutti Quanti, ridden by Harry Cobden.

Majborough Leads Arkle Betting

In the My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy, only five go to post. Majborough is the strong favourite for Mullins and JP McManus. British hopes rest with L’Eau Du Sud, trained by Dan Skelton, with Jango Baie, Touch Me Not, and Only By Night completing the field.

Full Fields for Ultima and Juvenile Handicap

The Ultima Handicap Chase features a full field of 24, including Lucinda Russell’s pair Whistle Stop Tour and Myretown. Derek Fox has opted for the former, with Patrick Wadge aboard the latter.

The Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle has also attracted a full field of 22, while 18 will line up for the Princess Royal National Hunt Chase after field size limits came into effect.

Champion Hurdle 2025 Declarations:

• Burdett Road – Sam Twiston-Davies

• Constitution Hill – Nico de Boinville

• King Of Kingsfield – Danny Gilligan

• State Man – Paul Townend

• Winter Fog – Brian Hayes

• Brighterdaysahead – Jack Kennedy

• Golden Ace – Lorcan Williams

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Declarations:

• Kopek Des Bordes – Paul Townend

• Funiculi Funicula – Brian Hayes

• Irancy – Mark Walsh

• Karbau – Sean O’Keeffe

• Karniquet – Danny Mullins

• Salvator Mundi – Patrick Mullins

• Romeo Coolio – Jack Kennedy

• Sky Lord – Darragh O’Keeffe

• Tripoli Flyer – Jonathan Burke

• Tutti Quanti – Harry Cobden

• William Munny – Sean Flanagan

• Workahead – Rachael Blackmore

Arkle Challenge Trophy Declarations:

• Majborough – Mark Walsh

• L’Eau Du Sud – Harry Skelton

• Jango Baie – Nico de Boinville

• Touch Me Not – Jack Kennedy

• Only By Night – Keith Donoghue

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Declarations:

• Lossiemouth – Paul Townend

• Jade De Grugy – Danny Mullins

• Casa No Mento – Sam Twiston-Davies

• Dysart Enos – Jonathan Burke

• Gala Marceau – Brian Hughes

• Jetara – Sam Ewing

• Joyeuse – Nico de Boinville

• July Flower – Rachael Blackmore

• Kala Conti – Jack Kennedy

• Queens Gamble – Paul O’Brien

• Take No Chances – Harry Skelton

The post Lossiemouth to Defend Mares’ Hurdle Crown as Constitution Hill Headlines Champion Hurdle appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The Lisgoold, Co Cork rider won the Coolmore N.H. Sires Bolshoi Ballet Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle, as expected, aboard Lossiemouth (2/11f), who ends the season unbeaten.

She lead home a Closutton 1-2-3 with Gala Marceau runner-up under Danny Mullins, with Ashroe Diamond in her final career race, third for Patrick Mullins.

The six-time champion rider Paul Townend followed this up two races later when Kargese (9/4f) came swiftly on the stands’ side to claim the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle, both successes for champion trainer Willie Mullins.

Bottler’secret was second for Gavin Cromwell and Seán Flanagan, with Nurburgring next home for J.J. Slevin and Joseph O’Brien.

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It was another victory at the highest level for jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins, who continued their domination of this year’s Festival on the final day.

"She's shown throughout the year that she's probably the best juvenile."@PTownend discusses Lossiemouth's victory in the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle @punchestownrace plus also gives a good mention to the runner-up, Zarak The Brave pic.twitter.com/YzJZUFM2y7

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 29, 2023

Lossiemouth led home a 1-2-3 for the Closutton trainer as Zarak The Brave (Daryl Jacob) and Gala Marceau (Danny Mullins) second and third places in the almost two and a half mile race.

Lossiemouth completes the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festival double

The Triumph Hurdle winner fends off Zarak The Brave and Gala Marceau to win the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle @punchestownrace

A 1-2-3 for @WillieMullinsNH! pic.twitter.com/fmFBzHY2ua

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 29, 2023

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