Punchestown preview: Lossiemouth's star to shine bright on Ladies' Day
Lossiemouth and Paul Townend won the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1). Pic: Healy Racing
Lossiemouth is the star attraction on Ladies' Day at Punchestown and while she won’t be much of a price, seeing her strut her stuff one last time this season in the Boodles Champion Hurdle promises to be quite the treat.
The Willie Mullins-trained grey has enjoyed a near-faultless campaign, her only blemish coming when a lacklustre second to Brighterdaysahead in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.
However, following the application of cheekpieces, she set the record straight in no uncertain terms when the pair clashed again at Cheltenham, crossing the line six and a half lengths clear of her fellow mare in the Champion Hurdle.
That was her fourth straight Cheltenham Festival success, one that took her Grade One tally to 10, a remarkable figure considering she is still only a seven-year-old.
Three of those 10 Grade One wins have come at Punchestown and it’ll be a big surprise if she fails to add another top-level success to her stellar CV today.
With an eye to the future it’ll be interesting to see how William Munny fares on his first start since chasing home Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.
Barry Connell had high hopes that he could develop into a Champion Hurdle contender this season but injury has kept him off the track until now.
An encouraging run here will keep that dream alive but last year’s Champion Hurdle victor Golden Ace looks likely to win the race for second.
Lossiemouth is one of three short-priced Closutton favourites today and it’s almost impossible to make a case against any of them.
King Rasko Grey defied a significant market drift to get the better of 20 rivals in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and the task facing him in the Grade One Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle looks an easier one. It’ll be a huge surprise if he is turned over.
The same sentiments apply to Dinoblue in the Grade Two Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Glencarraig Lady Francis Flood Mares Chase.
She won this race on the back of winning the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham last season and should complete the same double again today.
Mullins can also provide the answer in the QuinnBet Novice Handicap Chase where Funiculi Funicula can back up his recent Cork success by getting the better of Shuffle The Deck.
It could be a good day for Martin Brassil as Panda Boy has solid claims in the Uniquely Champion Hunters Chase while stablemate Cityofblindinlites, who found only subsequent Cheltenham Champion Bumper victor The Mourne Rambler too good at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, looks the one to beat in the finale, the Stables Restaurant Naas INH Flat Race.
Darren Norris' picks:
3.40 Hearts And Spades
4.15 Panda Boy
4.50 Dinoblue
5.25 Funiculi Funicula (Nap)
6.00 King Rasko Grey
6.40 Lossiemouth
7.10 In My Teens
7.40 Cityofblindinlites (NB)
3.40 Last Round
4.15 Its On The Line
4.50 Only By Night
5.25 Shuffle The Deck
6.00 Kiely's Place
6.40 Golden Ace
7.10 Pioneer Pete
7.40 Premier Division
