Lossiemouth won the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham | report and free video replay
By Sporting Life
15:59 · SAT January 27, 2024
Lossiemouth produced a dazzling performance to win the Grade 2 Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day.
Last season's Triumph Hurdle heroine was made the 4/7 favourite despite having her first run in open company and her first of the season and proved just why confidence was so high with a supremely easy success.
Rubaud, a useful yardstick, took the field along in a race registered as the International Hurdle and he, along with Love Envoi, were still there between the final two flights.
However, in their slipstream Paul Townend appeared to be travelling easily aboard the grey and the pair eased to the front as they approached the last and landed running.
Townend barely let out an inch of rein but Lossiemouth fairly bounded up the hill to win by nine and a half lengths.
Love Envoi led home the closely grouped remaining quartet.
The race sponsors cut Lossiemouth to 4/5 from 13/8 for the Mares' Hurdle - a race that trainer Willie Mullins has dominated - at the Cheltenham Festival in March and to 12/1 from 25s for the Champion Hurdle in March.
Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee
Log in with your existing Sporting Life, Sky Bet, or Sky Games account. If you don't have any of those, it's completely FREE to register!
Lossiemouth runs in the colours of Susannah Ricci whose husband, Rich, said: "They told me she was going very well at home and it's good to see her do it on the track so great news.
"Paul was saying she's summered really well, a bit fresh but not like she can be; last year here, coming down the hill she got lit up in the Triumph and none of that today he (Townend) said so that bodes well; it's great to have her back and she's a hell of a horse to look forward to."
Ricci was quick to pour cold water on any suggestions of a tilt at the Champion Hurdle, saying: "I think it will be the Mares' Hurdle. This year's plan will be what we've talked about.
"I wouldn't run scared of anything but I also want to win races and this is the dilemma that happens in our sport all the time. Also, just knowing what we learned last year with Vauban and four-year-olds moving into open company, it's very hard to win those races with five-year-olds, so I think the plan is the Mares, Punchestown the Annie Power and then maybe a race in France.
"We'll have entries in other races, including the Champion Hurdle, but I think that's probably the path; we'll see how we go next year and maybe take a look at the Champion Hurdle then. That's the plan at the moment and so far so good."
Townend said of the race itself: "Very straightforward, jumped real slick and accurate and when I eventually let her go, she took off for me; it was a pleasure.
"She's a beauty, she's done really, really well and today was worth the wait to get her back. She couldn't do any more to be impressive today and it's brilliant.
"She will be competitive wherever she goes (at Cheltenham) and she’s high-class. She’s physically and mentally matured and she was a fair sort as a juvenile too, so she didn’t have to improve and awful lot."
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
We are committed to Safer Gambling and have a number of self-help tools to help you manage your gambling. We also work with a number of independent charitable organisations who can offer help and answers any questions you may have.
