Favourite Lossiemouth wins the Triumph Hurdle for Willie Mullins in the first race of the final day of the Cheltenham Festival justifying Paul Townend’s decision to select her …
Lossiemouth #Lossiemouth
St Patrick’s Day got off to a raucous start for the legions of Irish racing fans at Cheltenham as Lossiemouth easily justified favouritism in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
Trainer Willie Mullins saddled no less than seven of the 15 runners and he had the first four home, with the grey becoming just the fifth filly in history to take the prize.
Though Gala Marceau (100-30) stayed on well to take second spot from Zenta (12-1), the race was over once she cruised up on the bridle to take it up after jumping the penultimate flight and she was eased to a two-and-a-quarter-length success at the line. Gust of Wind completed the Closutton quartet.
Backed heavily by punters prior to the race, the filly went off as the 11-8 favourite.
Townend showed his characteristic patience to wait for his time to let Lossiemouth go, and when they passed the final bend he allowed the filly to show the turn of foot that had dominated all of the pre-race column inches.
Favourite Lossiemouth has won the Cheltenham Festival JCB Triumph Hurdle for Willie Mullins
The filly produced an assured run with Paul Townend aboard to claim victory in the Grade 1 race
Further emphasising the dominance of Mullins’ yard this year and the continued Irish dominance over the British, the trainer claimed a 1-2-3-4 finish in the race.
With a number of fancied chances to come in later races, it could be a historic day for the Closutton Stables.
‘I spent a lot of time trying to figure out which one I would ride. I’m happy to be on Lossiemouth but whether I’m on the right one remains to be seen. We were unlucky at the Dublin Racing Festival,’ Townend had said prior to the race.
‘She showed huge ability on her two wins before that and to get as close as she did to Gala Marceau after suffering so much interference that day was impressive. My horse has the form in the book so I sided with her.’
His decision was more than justified, with Lossiemouth showing her class throughout.
Blood Destiny, which had also been heavily backed and was expected to provide the stiffest challenge to Lossiemouth, looked to travel well but when the horses came round the bend and into the final straight, he found little with Patrick Mullins aboard.
Reigniting the battle between the two at the Dublin Racing Festival, Lossiemouth this time got the better of Gala Marceau but Danny Mullins, aboard the filly, promised after the race that he and his horse would be back for revenge.
It was the Closutton handler’s third win in the race in four years, having previously struck with Burning Victory in 2020 and Vauban last year.
Willie Mullins trained seven of the 15 runners in the opening race of the final day of the Festival
Share or comment on this article: