Lossiemouth - Mares' or Champion Hurdle?

The 2025 Champion Hurdle has the potential to be one of the most exciting renewals in many years, if all the leading protagonists get there on Tuesday March 11th.

We have the 2023 winner Constitution Hill, still unbeaten but having missed out 12 months ago when State Man stepped in to inherit the crown.

They are set to be joined by top-class mares Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead for what could be a vintage renewal.

The big question remains, will the last named duo turn up in the Champion Hurdle or possibly defect to race against their own sex in the Mares' Hurdle?

The Willie Mullins-trained Lossiemouth appears to still be leaning towards the Champion Hurdle. Is it the right race for her?

Festival prep far from ideal

Lossiemouth has not exactly had the ideal preparation for Cheltenham, irrespective of her eventual target.

She beat a three-miler in Teahupoo to win the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse over 2m4f in December, but was then no match for Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

The latter was having his first start in a year, but proved too strong as Lossiemouth looked ill at ease under Paul Townend almost from flagfall, so much so that her connections were seemingly pleased to get within 2 1⁄2-lengths of Nicky Henderson's star come the winning post.

From there it was onwards to the Dublin Racing Festival and an Irish Champion Hurdle showdown with stablemate State Man.

It was coming to the boil nicely and would have been hugely informative, but Lossiemouth hit the deck at the fourth last flight of hurdles, leaving the race to be entirely inconclusive.

Just seven horses from 160 since 2009 have won at the Cheltenham Festival after falling on their previous appearance, equating to just under 4.5 per cent.

Whether that run is in the Champion Hurdle or the Mares' race, statistical history is against Lossiemouth.

Mullins eager to stick with the plan

Willie Mullins has trained the winner of the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham 10 times since the race was introduced in 2008.

Three of those have come for one of his strongest patrons, Rich Ricci, in the form of Vroum Vroum Mag (2016), Benie Des Dieux (2018) and of course Lossiemouth in 2024.

They also suffered agony in 2015 when Annie Power infamously came crashing down with the race at her mercy jumping the last, although she had her redemption a year later in winning a Champion Hurdle.

In Mullins and Ricci, no two men in racing are better placed to appreciate the difference between winning a Champion Hurdle or a Mares' Hurdle.

The 'plan', Mullins says, has been in place for two years to try and win a Champion Hurdle with Lossiemouth.

After her demise at the Dublin Racing Festival - and with the apropos that she was fit and well in the aftermath - Mullins pointedly told Racing TV: "Unless Rich thinks differently, we're happy to go for the Champion Hurdle."

Verdict

All roads still lead to the Champion Hurdle for Lossiemouth, it seems. Her owner and trainer have had this race in mind ever since she won the Triumph Hurdle impressively in 2023.

Things haven't gone to plan in her prep runs, but she will go to the Cotswolds with a perfect three-from-three record in Cheltenham starts, including two Festival wins.

As regards the Mares' Hurdle, it is a case of 'been there, done that' for Lossiemouth given her impressive win last March.

She has the chance to make her mark on what could be the best Champion Hurdle in well over a decade in terms of the depth of star quality if the 'big four' all line up.

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