Lossiemouth and Paul Townend © Photo Healy Racing
Top mare Lossiemouth (4/7f) made a successful seasonal reappearance today as the dual Cheltenham festival heroine impressively landed Fairyhouse's Grade 1 Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle, for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend.
Previously beaten just once from ten starts and winner of Cheltenham's Mares Hurdle last term, the five-year-old was patiently ridden today, blundered at the fourth-last, but readily quickened by Stayers Hurdle winner Teahupoo from the final flight, gliding to a 3.75 lengths success.
Following the rout, bookmakers cut Lossiemouth to 7/4f (from 5/2) for March's Champion Hurdle with Mullins, earlier successful with Tounsivator reporting “it was very impressive, they went very steady which I think suited us.
“She has that bit of speed, has a nice Flat pedigree and when they went steady, it was bar a fall or something like that. She did make a bad mistake at the fourth last but when it came down to a speed race, I thought she was going to win.
“Her dam is a half-sister to Lord Glitters who was a good miler a few years ago for David O'Meara. That's the sort of pedigree she has - she has that bit of speed that always comes in handy when they go steady.”
Regarding plans, he said “I imagine we'll try and keep her and State Man (Champion Hurdler) apart. There is no point us knocking our heads against one another and we can do that later on in the season so we'll find out more about what's in England.
“Stateman will probably go to Leopardstown at Christmas: Lossiemouth went to the International Hurdle last year but we'll have to look at the conditions of that, as it mightn't suit.
“There is also Kempton and maybe that's the one and let Anzadam (yesterday's winner) go to the International.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
