Willie Mullins is banking on run from Lossiemouth in Sunday’s Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle laying the platform for a profitable marketing campaign that would embody Champion Hurdle glory.
The five-year-old took on all-comers as a juvenile when claiming Triumph Hurdle pleasure, however connections had been content material to scrub up within the mares’ division for final season’s competition double at Cheltenham and Punchestown.
This time round, there is no such thing as a suggestion of avoiding the highest boys and settling for any kind of comfort prize.
Lossiemouth is particular 💯
An outstanding winner of the @CloseBrothers Mares’ Hurdle 👌 pic.twitter.com/VTYOCvugPj
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 12, 2024
A stone bruise stored her from working within the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown towards Brighterdaysahead and State Man, however Mullins stated: “Lossiemouth begins off this weekend after which the Worldwide Hurdle at Cheltenham (January 25) could be choice for her, moderately than going to Leopardstown at Christmas, then on to Cheltenham (for the Pageant).
“Everybody needs to have competitors, all these horses taking one another on each week, however you’ve obtained to have a last – and to me, you must have quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals.
“Cheltenham and Punchestown are the 2 races we usually go, or Aintree, however should you’re taking one another on an excessive amount of early within the season, there’s no sense of trying ahead to these races.”
When requested if beginning out over two and a half miles this weekend meant the Mares’ Hurdle was once more into account, the Closutton maestro insisted: “Not except she disappoints – this was the plan for the final two years, to go for the Champion Hurdle together with her this 12 months.
“I’m very pleased together with her, I believe she’s prepared. I believe she has no downside with two miles however has completely no downside with two and a half both, and should you’re going to win a Champion Hurdle, you want a horse that stays two and a half, I believe.
Lossiemouth and Paul Townend after profitable at Punchestown (Brian Lawless/PA).
“The tempo of the Champion Hurdle, the best way it’s run, you don’t need any doubts about stamina going into that, as a result of you’ll be came upon.”
As season-opening exams go, it will definitely be a stiff one, with Teahupoo trying to be a part of Limestone Lad, Solerina, Apple’s Jade and Honeysuckle in securing a 3rd Hatton’s Grace success.
Gordon Elliott’s seven-year-old went on to dominate the staying division with convincing victories at Cheltenham and Punchestown final time period.
“It appears to be like an excellent race. I suppose Lossiemouth goes to be very laborious to beat getting 7lb off us over two and a half miles, however we’ll do our greatest and our horse is in good type,” stated Elliott, who might be with out the companies of secure jockey Jack Kennedy after he suffered a damaged leg in a fall on Saturday.
“It’s good to see good horses taking one another on. We’ll do our greatest, however I believe Lossiemouth goes to be very laborious to beat.”
Elliott additionally saddles outsiders Beacon Edge and Maxxum to make up the numbers to 4.
Jack Kennedy aboard Teahupoo after profitable at Cheltenham (David Davies for the Jockey Membership).
The Cullentra Home handler is about to saddle 4 of the six runners within the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase, as he seeks so as to add to his document tally of seven earlier victories on this two-and-a-half-mile Grade One occasion.
Firefox is his most-fancied entry, having began out over fences with a pleasant win at Down Royal following a sequence of admirable positioned efforts in elite-level novice hurdles final time period, whereas stablemates Croke Park, Stellar Story and Shecouldbeanything are additionally engaged.
The largest risk to Firefox is anticipated to return from the Henry de Bromhead-trained duo of Coronary heart Wooden and Attractive Tom, who’ve each proven improved type since tackling larger obstacles and are extra skilled on this sphere than the market chief.
On Attractive Tom, De Bromhead stated: “He was all the time going to be a greater chaser and he’s a very nice horse who has completed little fallacious.
“He made a mistake in Tipperary, however he appears to have learnt from that and jumped good in Cork.
Coach Henry De Bromhead (Damien Eagers/PA).
“Coronary heart Wooden is clearly a really good horse as nicely. That is his final alternative as a novice and we’re hoping for good runs.
“Attractive Tom would in all probability desire nicer floor and I’d say Coronary heart Wooden goes on most grounds.”
The Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle has been one other pleased searching floor for Elliott, who has taken 4 of the final seven renewals and has two sturdy contenders once more this time.
Romeo Coolio was second within the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and hacked up by 18 lengths at Down Royal on his hurdles bow, whereas stablemate Bleu De Vassy can boast a wide-margin win at Fairyhouse and a easy success at Navan forward of this Grade Two contest.
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