Will Lossiemouth tackle Structure Hill on the Cheltenham Competition?

The Willie Mullins-trained 2023 JCB Triumph Hurdle heroine Lossiemouth annihilated her rivals with an outstanding success within the 2m1f Grade Two Unibet Worldwide Hurdle on Cheltenham Racecourse’s Competition Trials Day on Saturday (27 January).

However though the five-year-old daughter of Nice Pretender holds an entry within the Champion Hurdle on the Cheltenham Competition, the Mares’ Hurdle seems the extra probably goal in March.

“We’ve got at all times thought the world of her,” mentioned proprietor Wealthy Ricci. “Structure Hill is a monster and I’m not operating away from him [in the Champion Hurdle], however she is a superb filly and also you simply wish to thoughts her to see how she goes.”

Lossiemouth maintained her 100% file at Cheltenham after taking the lead approaching the final hurdle and she or he went on to attain below jockey Paul Townend by a facile 9 and a half lengths from Love Envoi for coach Harry Fry and jockey Johnny Burke, with the Nicky Henderson-trained First Road third below James Bowen, who had already recorded a win on Cheltenham Competition contender Sir Gino earlier within the day.

Lossiemouth: “She was bombing at residence”

The attractive gray Lossiemouth has now gained all bar one in every of her seven profession begins. In response to Wealthy Ricci, the mare will head to the Annie Energy at Punchestown after the Cheltenham Competition in March, then “possibly one thing in France”.

“Possibly subsequent season she is a Champion Hurdle kind,” he mentioned. “I used to be 100 per cent nervous coming into at the moment. I feel we took the choice based mostly on Vauban final season to not enter her till after the brand new 12 months to provide her loads of time to return again.

“They instructed me she was bombing at residence, so I anticipated her to run rather well at the moment, so it’s joyful days,” he continued.

“She is a really good filly to look ahead to. She is good. I’ve by no means run away from a struggle and I feel we now have to do what’s in step with her talents. She is younger and developing. I’m simply delighted with the efficiency at the moment as she has been nice for us.”

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H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her function as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her world wide reporting from exhibits and interviewing riders, connections and people concerned behind the scenes. Since becoming a member of H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on each topic throughout the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to steady administration — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She additionally has first-hand expertise of working within the equestrian trade as a driving teacher and yard supervisor.