Lisa O'Neill: 'I'd run her in the Champion Hurdle'

Speaking on Irish Racing’s Cheltenham Festival preview show, Lisa O’Neill - assistant trainer to Gordon Elliott - says Willie Mullins is the champion trainer for a reason but Lossiemouth’s stumble at the Dublin Racing Festival could expose some flaws in the star mare hailing from the Closutton maestro’s yard.

“They'll freshen her up a little bit and do a bit of schooling with her between now and then,” O’Neill said.

“But I think mentally, sometimes maybe a horse can be showing all positive signs at home but it's not till they go on the track that you actually uncover a crunching fall like that did leave a mark.

“But look, Willie Mullins is a champion trainer for a reason so he'll know what best to do with her.”

O’Neill added that Gordon Elliott’s runner, Brighterdaysahead, should head for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, rather than the Mares’ Hurdle.

“If, in my own opinion, if I had the choice, I think I'd run her in the Champion Hurdle because it's not very often that you can have a live contender in that race,” O’Neill added.

“There are a few of them in there, including Constitution Hill, State Man as well as Lossiemouth. They all come there with question marks.

“I think for me, obviously, she [Brighterdaysahead] has been on the upgrade all season. She's proved herself the last time we've seen her.”

Watch the full Cheltenham Preview show here.