Willie Mullins once again dominated on the penultimate day of the Punchestown Festival but it was Lossiemouth who lit up Friday’s action in the Boodles Champion Hurdle.

Having finally been allowed to take her chance in the Cheltenham equivalent this season where she ran out an easy winner, she was providing Mullins with a fourth successive win in the Punchestown event on the back of a State Man hat-trick.

Paul Townend took no chances on the 2-7 favourite by keeping her on the outside of Golden Ace and Wilful before kicking clear approaching the last to win by five lengths from the admirable Golden Ace in second.

“She was very dominant again, when we turned out of the back straight she started running away with me,” said Townend.

“I thought we were going a good gallop but she was always dominant.

“The cheekpieces seem to have made a real difference to her but to be fair she wasn’t too bad without them was she! She’s a very good mare.

“It’s hard to believe she’s still only seven, she seems to have been around forever and hopefully we’ve got her for a few more years yet.

“State Man has been a great servant but imagine how lucky we are to have her to step into his shoes.”

Rich Ricci owns Lossiemouth with his wife, Susannah, and said: “It’s all down to the mare, Willie and the whole team, brilliant.

“It’s a dream season, you dream of these things, but I can tell you living it it’s so hard as you get so nervous.

“It’s an amazing season, we’ve had some lovely horses in the past but this one is something special and I’m very appreciative.

“Fair play to the second, Golden Ace is a fantastic mare and she ran a great race. They are lovely people as well.

“She’s incredible, she’s a lovely, lovely mare. Hopefully we’re back at Cheltenham next year and maybe here again.”

Assistant David Casey added:- “She’s a wonderful mare. She does her thing everyday, she turns up and does her stuff.

“Paul said she started to run away with him turning out of the back straight. Everything was smooth.

“She’s just a fabulous mare to have anything to do with and we’re delighted to have her in the yard.

“Long may it last with her.”