Lossiemouth Remains Champion Hurdle-Bound After Fall

After the Sunday Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown, the lesson remains that Lossiemouth walked away from a heavy fall unscathed. The 9-10 favorite trained by Willie Mullins went down four from home in the main race during the Dublin Racing Festival. In the process, she nearly brought down her stablemate and two-time defending champion, State Man. However, he managed to stay upright and crossed the finish line for a third consecutive victory in the race.

While with that win State Man added a trophy to his tally, it was Lossiemouth, who quickly regained her feet, that stole most of the show. Until then, she had been in an enthralling merry-go-round contest with her stablemate, showing good jumping ability to stay ahead of the other three runners, who could not hold a candle to their top form.

The competition between the two leading horses had set the stage for a dramatic finish, but the decisive moment came at the fourth-last hurdle. Lossiemouth clipped the top at speed, causing her to fall heavily. State Man’s jockey, Paul Townend, later admitted that avoiding a fall himself was pure luck.

This race was expected to be the defining moment in Lossiemouth’s season, determining whether she would challenge Constitution Hill in next month’s Irish Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham or take the alternative option of running in the Mares’ Hurdle on the same afternoon. Until her fall, she had shown more energy and determination than when finishing behind Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

Despite this setback, Mullins confirmed that the Irish Champion Hurdle remains the likely plan for the talented mare. “Our plan has always been to go for the Irish Champion Hurdle,” Mullins said. “Unless there’s a change of heart, I’m happy for her to run there, but ultimately, Rich [Ricci, Lossiemouth’s owner] will make the decision.”

For State Man, the victory provided some reassurance after a second-place finish behind Brighterdaysahead in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting. While his win on Sunday was secured under unusual circumstances, Mullins was encouraged by what he saw.

“I’m much happier that he was back to himself,” the trainer said. “But it’s always hard to know. He only ever does what he has to do, so it’s tough to gauge how much more he had left.”

Had the race played out without the fall, it would have been an exciting contest to the finish. Mullins acknowledged the disappointment for connections and horse racing fans alike. “I let both jockeys ride their race, and it was shaping up to be something special. It’s frustrating not to see the outcome,” he added.

Mullins secured a Grade One treble on the day, with Ballyburn and Kopek Des Bordes also securing victories in contrasting styles.

Ballyburn, a Cheltenham Festival winner last season, justified short odds to win the two-mile-six novice hurdle. However, his performance was steady rather than dominant. A five-length win over Croke Park suggests he remains a strong contender for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase next month, though his odds may drift slightly after that performance.

On the other hand, Kopek Des Bordes delivered a commanding display in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle. The race took an unexpected turn when a loose horse joined him after the third-last and carried him several lengths clear. Despite this, he showed no signs of fading, turning into the home straight with Townend still motionless in the saddle while his rivals were already being pushed along.

Kopek Des Bordes extended his advantage to 13 lengths by the finish, never asking for maximum effort and showing significant improvement in his jumping compared to his previous outing. Following this dominant victory, his odds for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham were cut from 6-1 to around 7-4.

Mullins is no stranger to training short-priced favorites for the Cheltenham Festival’s opening race, and with Kopek Des Bordes now leading the market, he looks well-placed for another successful showing in March. He also has the current second-favorite, Salvator Mundi, in his stable, adding to his strong position in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

With Cheltenham just over a month away, Mullins appears set for another strong performance at the festival. Lossiemouth’s fall has left some uncertainty, but if she recovers well, her clash with Constitution Hill in the Irish Champion Hurdle remains a key event to watch. Meanwhile, State Man has regained some confidence, and Ballyburn and Kopek Des Bordes have strengthened the trainer’s group heading to Prestbury Park.

The Dublin Racing Festival often provides key indicators for Cheltenham, and this year’s event was no exception. Lossiemouth’s setback has raised some questions, but with the festival fast approaching, attention now shifts to how the top contenders will fare on the biggest stage.