Willie Mullins pulls Lossiemouth out of mouthwatering Champion Hurdle clash vs Constitution Hill and State Man… again
WILLIE MULLINS has pulled Lossiemouth out of her mouthwatering Punchestown Champion Hurdle clash against Constitution Hill and State Man.
Rich Ricci’s incredible grey mare was around 3-1 to serve it up over two miles to the two big boys over in Ireland.
But Closutton boss Mullins has pulled the plug on her run after failing to include her in the five-day confirmation stage.
Constitution Hill, who has been schooling over fences after falling on his past two runs, was included.
As was State Man for Mullins, who fell at the last with the Champion Hurdle at his mercy.
Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead is in the huge Friday contest, as is Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace.
Mullins has also included County Hurdle winner Kargese and third Absurde, as well as Daddy Long Legs and Winter Fog.
Boodles Champion Hurdle odds
5-4 Constitution Hill
6-4 State Man
11-2 Brighterdaysahead
10 El Fabiolo, Golden Ace
12 Kargese
16 Absurde
33 Daddy Long Legs
50-1 bar
The all-conquering handler has left El Fabiolo in the race too, despite him being declared for Tuesday’s Champion Chase.
For Lossiemouth, she could yet run at Punchestown but in Saturday’s Mares’ Champion Hurdle over 2m4f.
The decision to pull her from the top two-mile contest is a repeat of what happened at last month’s Cheltenham.
Lossiemouth made a mockery of her rivals in the Mares’ Hurdle over 2m4f.
And though Mullins said it was ultimately the right decision to run her there, there was a massive case of ‘what might have been’ after the unbelievable ending to the Champion Hurdle.
Golden Ace benefitted from Constitution Hill and State Man’s falls after Brighterdaysahead ran out of steam entirely on the run-in to win at 25-1, with 66-1 Burdett Road in second.
Lossiemouth won the mares’ race on her comeback from a bone-crunching fall when she last ran in Ireland.
She and State Man eyeballed each other the whole way round in the Irish Champion Hurdle before she fell four out.
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