Lossiemouth

I cant see what difference it makes if all horses declared the night before, anyone betting months before Antepost were given better odds for exactly the scenarios that are playing out now. Move on, the same will happen next year no doubt.

I backed a horse for the Supreme that is in the Maiden at Naas Today !   

Glasgow   

just noticed that one of last years swans that fergal O'Brien went to great lengths to hide her from been seen as  a goose and gutted she didn't start in mares novice last yr,is 40,s for this yrs mares

Not a great read this morning. All negative for me. Golden Ace in the CH although I do  have a 40/1 nrnb which I might be able to lay off. Lost the mares bet though. Libberty Hunter now missing the Grand Annual is another one that bites the dust. Serves me right for backing ANY horse with more than one entry. Never again. It never entered my head that they would do anything that daft as he should be a 200/1 shot for the Champion Chase. At least I still have Majborough at a decent price and The Changing Man for Tuesday. Probably a fall and a second.

I very very rarely bet AP these days, I think my first one for 5 years was East India Dock, a horse I discussed on here with dd at the time, actually. I was so taken with how well he jumped on his Cheltenham debut, and the prices offered after didn't seem to reflect that at all. Of course Hendo subsequently unveiled Lulamba, and the Cromwell gang are seemingly quite confident of a strong run from Hello Neighbour, so not counting it out just yet

I think the scenario with her is different. It's not a blind bet. She'll either run in the Mares Hurdle, Champion Hurdle or not run at all. She's the credentials and ability. It's different to betting antepost on a hopeful juvenile that could be bound for the Triumph, Supreme, progessing to The Arkle, RSA or one of the 3 handicaps.

This decision has been taken because the Mares Hurdle is a much softer race. It's also the correct decision for the horse given the Leopardstown fall.

We heard from Scott and he said trainer/jock wanted to go Mares' and he admitted the decision didn't make much sense. I believe the owner should decide, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be called as a nonsense decision. One of the 'suits' (it was like a solicitors convention on the couch) just said 'right decision'. Was he even listening to the trainer?

The question about Lossiemouth has nothing to do with the final decision, but the way it has been handled by Mullins/Ricci. They have led people up the garden path for a year. If you can't condemn that then you may as well give up. If she wasn't good enough after Kempton we should have heard about it. Instead Mullins put a positive slant on the run.

Leaving aside the present kerfuffle, this scenario is only going to get more frequent. The proliferation of Mares Only races at the Festival is designed to encourage mares to race in NH races. And it does. But the more successful the plan is, the more likely it is that there will be really good mares who will be very, very competitive in the (proper) championship races. One appreciates the position was slightly different, but how many Champion/Stayers Hurdles would Quevega have won? Would Annie P have won more than 1? We will never know. This year we have 2 mares that might win a CH but one goes elsewhere. In 5 years we may have 4 or 5 BDA's or Lossies. All with the temptation to slide off to the Mares/Stayers. The same, to a lesser extent, applies to the mares novice hurdle and mares chase (in respect of their effect on the novice races and Champion Chase). The aim is noble, but it can be achieved by staging the Mares "Finals" elsewhere. Aintree or Sandown. It is obvious that the plan is becoming too successful and diluting an event already diluted by 10/12f flat horse going abroad and the concentration of many good horses in a small number of yards. And so we will be back to 4 odds on shots on Tuesday. like the Wednesday last year and 3 impossible handicaps. Not too many people shelling out £120 + expenses for that will be tempted to return.

Plain as day these double, treble entries are going to kill betting. Racing punters aren’t as thick as football punters they have a better idea of the mechanics of betting.

Can easily argue that Honeysuckle was more of a duck than Lossiemouth. Three horses running in the race boast stronger form. Sure, she's a talking horse and is popular, but only the allowance made it viable at all. Then it can be considered that the owner and trainer have already won the race with multiple horses, to me it seems like the no brainer option.

also the jockey deciding what goes where isn’t going to help backer confidence

Stating the obvious but people were betting on what the connections would do, not should do. Doesn't matter if they use a coin flip to decide, connections aren't going to be swayed by what people outside of their bubble think should happen. Certainly not those that have 100+ festival winners!

Great post Donegal   

It may kill ante post betting eric which is neither here nor there tbh as it's a drop in the ocean compared to the real punting on the day.

Well said DD..all they had to say "we are keeping our options open"..not this bullsh*t about training for the CH for two years

Lossiemouth was always going Champion. The thing that happened was Brighterdaysahead. They didn’t see that happening and thought had sporting chance against CH but very unlikely beating her as well. Ruby would have also swayed their decision as he’s very much in BDA is something special.

She was always going Champion. Until she wasn't.

Ruby Walsh is the worst tipster i can ever remember before a race lol. He is very knowledgeable on how horses are ridden in races as you would expect but i have noticed he is very bad at tipping them.

i mean i guess he has a just under 50% chance here picking from one of two lol.

yeah i mean Lossimouth isnt worth debating they have always played the Champion Hurdle tune up until very very recentlywell after BDA came on the scene.

Just remove the Mares hurdle. This way no ducking and diving to appease connection and bolster the satchels of bookies. and, 2 days before the race is really taking the mickey. I understand it's the prerogative of connection nevertheless, pathetic!

lot of jockeys jumps and flat are ^^^^

jockeys that is ^^^

Might be a muted reception if she wins another Mares

Bearing in mind Lossie is only a 6yo so still time and despite all the planning nobody can anticipate a heavy hurdle fall in the race before the target , that said the potential of finishing 3rd or 4th in a championship race seems pretty pointless to me and some of the previously placed horses who have run past beaten horses trying to win the race have been seriously sub standard so easily forgotten , the likes of Cima for example amongst others.

Did Mullins or anyone involved commit to running in the CH with certainty? I definitely don't pay attention to the post race chat like those regularly playing AP do. I only seem to recall Mullins saying that the plan was the CH, but not saying it was set in stone (paraphrasing)

if they think 2 m 4 is her trip, logic says she,ll get slowers as she gets older, if BDA is the next coming or THE HILL see,s her off,they,ll still be there next season,
the real unanswered ? which would give us a clue to both races is,do they think she,d beat stateman ?
be a watch for me but if I had an big opinion on either BDA or THE HILL,io,d be having a few quid on stateman on the machine

It makes no sense using ex-jocks as pundits. They weren't supposed to be betting throughout their careers, and then suddenly overnight they all become experts? Most are still much too close to the game, and are more likely to put people away. It amazes me how people will say Walsh said this, Walsh said that, what does he actually offer before races? As a jock he couldn't give two hoots about punters, now he's supposed to be helping them?

cider,

Isn't that the same thing? You can read the same if you go into Sporting Life - unless it's been conveniently removed - a few days ago. There's probably loads of his comments on YouTube, none of which would suggest she was going anywhere but the Champion Hurdle. This is coming across as if there was no conversation between owner and trainer which I don't believe.

The "professionals" seem to have accepted that C.Hill. Galopin dc, Majborough and Jonbon are going to win so they are dodging a confrontation with their best horses. Which makes it all the more surprising that Golden Ace, Burdett Road and Libberty Hunter are all taking on the best when their ratings say they have no chance. The common factor is GB trained and owned so perhaps more willing to have a go.

Personally I think the mares’ race is the best option for the vain Rich Ricci to get his idiotic Barnet on TV in the winner’s enclosure.

We have a truly magnificent staying chaser runnng on Friday who never misses a gig hopefully he will have a thread with as many posts and views.

She'll never win a Cheltenham Champion Hurdle. Next year Sir Gino (if CH is retired) or Lulamba (if massively triumphant) could be in contention. Probably one could emerge (hopefully not from Closutton or Ricc).

I hope the Mares Hurdle is history for good from next year. It does not add prestige or value to the Festival.

Cant have Lossiemouth at odds on after her last 2 races. Its lay of the week

Isn't that the same thing? You can read the same if you go into Sporting Life - unless it's been conveniently removed - a few days ago. There's probably loads of his comments on YouTube, none of which would suggest she was going anywhere but the Champion Hurdle. This is coming across as if there was no conversation between owner and trainer which I don't believe.


Not in my opinion. She blew out at Kempton and then took a crashing fall in Ireland. BDA won a 30 length romp in Ireland, and declared for the CH. So a lot has changed, plus of course Con Hill coming back to life.

I got the impression that she had to justify her place in the DRF, but crashed out. Easy to say obviously, but the easier option on the table was always likely to be tempting. I thought it was pretty unlikely that both grade 1 mares were going to run in the champion.

According to brain dEd Chamberlain the main selling point for Cheltenham on Tuesday is “I was there to see Constitution Hill.” Pretty weak imo. When all is said and done who gives a toss?

Think Ed sometimes ( if not always ) over estimates the love to watch good horses over the need to have a bet in the race , in that respect Cheltenham's no different to Southwell for 99% of punters.

Where she runs is not the point. Why was she left in the CH at the 5 day if this was the plan and why did the market (apparently) get strong signals that she was going for the CH? I could not really care where she runs so long as punters are not lied to. I am much more gutted about Golden Ace who I think could have beaten Lossiemouth in the mares but is probably booked for fourth in the CH.

Betting is clearly important to the vast majority of this forum but there are thousands or racing fans who do not bet or if they do it is only a couple of pounds a race. They will always swell the crowd to watch a great horse. If it was only about betting why would anyone pay more to attend Ascot or Cheltenham than they do at Ludlow or Ripon?

cider,

I hope you are not arguing for the sake of it, but you are missing the point. Those things happened and Mullins didn't change the script. In fact he found positives from the Kempton performance which was reasonable as she never really travelled on a track that didn't suit, and was only beaten a closing couple of lengths.

Just listening to Mellish going on about the situation. What a surprise he has found it so much easier to criticise race programming rather than actual people. That never happens with the media does it? The only 'culprits' here are Mullins and Ricci. No matter how many he doffs his cap next week, Mullins has been exposed as a consistent liar. In other walks of life he would be called out, but all know the racing media is about as powder puff as you can get.

Because C Hill could have been cast in his box or trod on a stone yesterday, sageform.

I backed a horse for the Supreme that is in the Maiden at Naas Today !   


  Yes, that one.! 

we just see it differently, but I'm guessing you lost money betting Lossie for the CH.

it was the plan for Lossie to run in the CH, I don't think that's a lie. you read that as a commitment, I don't. I plan to do lots of things, I plan to retire at 57. It doesn't mean that I will, whatever happens...

not saying Chamberlain IS one right thick KOONT but he can't even sell that line to work colleague , booby Walsh who is there to see BDA

If the "2 year plan" had actually incorporated seeking out a race or two where she was going to have to race at a bit more of a quicker pace against proper 2 milers then we might have discovered earlier that she had a question mark going that pace and then the mares hurdle could have been the aim long since.

Running against Teahupoo and Beacon Edge over 20f in a crawl should never have been part of a champion hurdle prep, you even had people getting excited about her pace late on in that race and was Ch favourite back then.

The last twice, finally, has been the first times in the whole of her career where she's actually been asked to go quick early, we should have known that about her a long time ago.

Will she win tomorrow? She's drifted out to nearer 1/1. She'd have been a 1/2 shot for this but for hitting the deck at Leopardstown.

Is she there to make the market for Jade de Grugy?

A late jockey change will tell us more.

Cant switch if both run.

imp wouldn’t have a clue about that Geoff m !

'geoff', I hope so. I think 9/10 is a good price, the connections are a bit dodgy.

Well having been trained and revved up to go 2 mile pace .I now hope they go a crawl and she pulls like stink.

I have lost interest in the mares now that Golden Ace is out. If I had to pick one, Queens Gamble looked a very good novice but Derham was right out of form until recently. Not beaten far under top weight in a very hot Irish handicap.

Would that not be ironic, if so? I think she'll win easily or do an Annie Power. Personally, t his Cheltenham is all about Constitution Hill and Galopin Des Champs.The rest come a distant 2nd.

lossiemouth price is a bit fishy imo

Just getting tuned up for Coral Cup tomorrow

should be 4/7 on form but switch  lacking confidence ? heavy fall? Revved up to be a 2 miler so could end up pulling like a train off a slow pace. I reckon she had a better chance of a place in Champion than winning this.

it is a race that is spoiling day 1 just another Mullins mare with a string of wins in the race against inferior opposition.

it is a race that is spoiling day 1 just another Mullins mare with a string of wins in the race against inferior opposition.

What might have been in 40 minutes.

Can Lossiemouth run in the 4.00 too.?

No bet on race but a pleasure to watch   

I would had backed her the champion.

This mares race needs to be gone.....

She pinged the hurdles once they quickened. Very good.

clearly that's her trip  but deserved a go in the champion

Why are so many against a race for the mares? That said there is no way that performance comes near what will happen next despite the ease, those critics of the owner and trainer might want to pay the bills before commenting?

First, salute Lossiemouth for doing brilliantly what she was asked to do.

There should be a mares race, but I would add a ratings cap of 150 (157 if you include the allowance).

she’s only 6. that’s champion hurdle and mares hurdle betting dead for next year

Right decision.

2.5m prob her best distance, running against mares not close to her in class.

CH and brighterdaysahead and Stateman all different class to what she faced today.

Champion hurdle going at a much quicker pace early on than the mares race over a further 1/2 mile, she can get into a lovely rhythm and then power home up the hill.

deffo right decision if you want a winner at Cheltenham.  Bills nowt to do with it. 70k not even loose change to the owner.

definetly shouldnt be grade 1

No signs of anything wrong with her all. Race a non-event with the rest completely outclassed. Obvious that she was in the wrong race. Terribly creepy interviews by Hislop with Ricci and Mullins. Media will never change.

at all

Rich Ricci interviewed said she had been working well, Willie said her work with State Man wasnt up to C.Hurdle class. Utter bollax.  The Xmas hurdle round a sharp Kempton showed she was up to C.Hurdle class.

Well done Geoff M, shame you are better informed than the professionals who handle her and therefore wasted on here.

Wonder if Rich is thinking yer know what we missed an oppourtunity

Wonder if Rich is thinking yer know what we missed an oppourtunity

Lossiemouth would have pissed up there, even if state man hadn't fallen.

To the gutless owner of Lossiemouth - you’ve got to be in it to win it.

Easy after time.

nowt to do with after time.  We know fallers are always possible.

Two consecutive seasons she's missed out on procrastination of her trainer and owner.

Ricci wanted a Cheltenham winner and he got one. Willie and Townend very nearly won both races which was the plan. I think that if they had all turned up in the CH and jumped clean rounds it would have been a close race between Constitution Hill and State Man with the mares fighting out third place.

must be some horse to be running in the Coral cup tomorrow

To hear the Cheltenham winners enclosure belting out the 'Ooh Jeremy Corbyn/Clarkson' (delete as appropriate) song after mr Scott & mr Gosden's mare won the Champion was a moment of pure joy in a world of almost universal crud.
What made it even better was that Richy Rich forced Mullins into one of the most bone-headed decisions in the long history of horse racing.
Everything right in the sport v everything's thats wrong.
How sweet it is.

Didn't scott and the owner have different ideas about what race the horse should run in ?

Scott wanted Mares Owner Champion.

impossible12311 Mar 25 16:27Joined: 07 Sep 15 | Topic/replies: 29,883 | Blogger: impossible123's blog
Two consecutive seasons she's missed out on procrastination of her trainer and owner.

I was thinking that. Could possibly have been looking at a dual Champion Hurdle winner at just 6 years of age. Maybe wouldn't have won, and we will never know, but that is what I think NH racing is supposed to be all about, the best taking on the best and the memories and the greats. Get a lot more pleasure from scenes like the winners enclosure yesterday with the crowd singing Jeremy Scott.

Suppose Ricci is a banker and banks on a winner at Cheltenham, which he has got.

Theoneandonly12 Mar 25 08:04Joined: 19 Oct 05 | Topic/replies: 466 | Blogger: Theoneandonly's blog


Suppose Ricci is a banker and banks on a winner at Cheltenham, which he has got.


Yer could change the bs to ws  and it would still make complete sense.

I'm glad the rightful trainer and owner won the race. This could be a once in a lifetime event for them both. On the other hand Mr Mullins and Mr Ricci could have their Champion Hurdle winner much sooner.

if you/we describe CHELT as the Olympics of horse racing,why do you want the 5th,6th,7th best 2 mile hurdler to wing the hurdling blue ribbon ?

"Paul chose to ride State Man at Leopardstown and I’d like to see who he is going to ride in the Champion.
“I know it will be difficult for him to get off State Man, he won the Champion last year, but who he chooses to ride is a factor.”


“UItimately, it will be Willie’s decision and we’ll have some input and make it over the weekend.“



So this seems to mean the trainer wanted the jockey to decide and the owner would fall in line.

and they were proved  99.9999999% right, you don't plan races byu hoping 2 fall and one blowesd out or you might as well enter a dozen in case 11 fall or blow out

Mar 12, 2025 -- 10:31AM, eric_morris wrote:

"Paul chose to ride State Man at Leopardstown and I’d like to see who he is going to ride in the Champion.“I know it will be difficult for him to get off State Man, he won the Champion last year, but who he chooses to ride is a factor.”“UItimately, it will be Willie’s decision and we’ll have some input and make it over the weekend.“So this seems to mean the trainer wanted the jockey to decide and the owner would fall in line.

Eric keep trying to convince yourself, but your not convincing anyone else. It was clear from the comments yesterday it was the owner's decision.

I've no doubt this Champion Hurdle will be well remembered , as the most tedious championship race in history   

Indeed Hayden.
1939 was similar, if you’ve the time or inclination to look it up!

I noticed another Lossiemouth running today in the 2:40. Thought horses had to be registered with different names?

Born in a different country.

Lossiemouth, the good one is french....most of the best one's running in england and ireland do tend to be french.