With the news breaking that Constitution Hill might miss the Champion Hurdle – will this open up the door for the exciting mare Lossiemouth to run in the big Cheltenham Festival day one feature?
Lossiemouth Currently Odds On For The Mares’ Hurdle
Popular owner Rich Ricci has won the Champion Hurdle twice over the years – Faugheen (2015) and Annie Power (2015) – and it was looking likely that he was going to wait till 2025 to fire another big bullet at the race in Lossiemouth.
His classy mare, who won the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season, is the current odds-on favourite for the Mares’ Hurdles, which is also on day one.
However, with the news breaking that Constitution Hill may miss the Champion Hurdle – could this tempt Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci towards more lucrative Tuesday feature?
Champion Hurdle Worth £185k More Than The Mares’ Hurdle
With the Champion Hurdle worth £253,215 and the Mares’ Hurdle worth £67,524.
Could connections be tempted with the bigger prize pot?
While, even if Lossiemouth finishes second in the Champion Hurdle she’d still pick up more than winning the Mares’ (£95k)
Trainer Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci had decided after her impressive International Hurdle win (watch below) that at the age of just 5 it’s better to wait another year before tackling the big boys in the Champion Hurdle.
And instead run in the Mares’ Hurdle – a race Mullins has mopped up nine times.
But Mullins did also say that he’d leave her in the Champion Hurdle in case anything drastic happened and with the big favourite Constitution Hill scoping badly in a recent Kempton workout. You could argue this is the ‘drastic’ thing Lossiemouth’s connection had in mind?
State Man Now Heads The Champion Hurdle Betting
Yes, there is still a small matter of State Man in the race, who has won the last two Irish Champion Hurdles, and is now the new Champion Hurdle favourite with most UK horse racing betting sites.
However, as a result of the Constitution Hill news, Lossiemouth was also a big mover in the market and is now as short as 3/1 with some online betting sites.
We’ll have to wait and see if Rich Ricci and co will be tempted to run if there is no Constitution Hill.
While we’ll also have to sit tight and see if the infection the current Champion Hurdler has can clear up in time. Regardless though, if it does, this is hardly ideal preparation.
You feel Henderson might cut his losses and prepare for Aintree instead – we’ll see.
Mullins will be sitting back, with two weeks till the Champion Hurdle, with a small glint in his eye. Knowing that he could be on the verge of his fifth win in the race.
But a lot can still change between now and the 12th of March.
Willie Mullins has won the Champion Hurdle four times over the years. Twice with Hurricane Fly, Faugheen and Annie Power.
Lossiemouth Would Also Get a 7lbs Mares’ Allowance In The Champion Hurdle
The other conundrum for Lossiemouth’s connections is that she’d also get a handy 7lbs mares’ allowance. Just like Annie Power got in 2016 when she beat the boys in the Champion Hurdle.
Those against her running, however, might look to the well-known Champion Hurdle age stat that’s only seen two winning 5 year-olds since 2008. In fact the 5 year-old overall stats in recent years read just 1-from-112 in the last 37 years.
While trends lovers might also cling to the fact that International Hurdle (Lossiemouth) winners are 0-from-13 over the last 20 years.
Plus, of course, regular rider for them both – Paul Townend – can’t ride them both in the Champion Hurdle.
WATCH: Lossiemouth Winning The 2024 International Hurdle
Latest Champion Hurdle Betting Odds 2024
- State Man 8/11
- Constitution Hill 6/4
- Lossiemouth 3/1
Note: Others on request and odds subject to change
What Date & Time Is The Champion Hurdle?
📅Time/Date: 3:30pm (Tuesday 12th March 2024)
🏇Racecourse: Cheltenham
💰 Winner: £253,215
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV
See the full 2024 Cheltenham Festival running order, race times and schedule.
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