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It was another easy Grade 1 victory for Lossiemouth as she took the Coolmore N.H. Sires Bolshoi Ballet Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle on Saturday.
The grey mare continues to excite connections, having landed the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham followed by the Grade 1 Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown in 2023. She successfully completed another Cheltenham-Punchestown double with victory in the Mares Champion Hurdle, following her emphatic success in the Cheltenham equivalent in March.
The race proved to be a straight forward task for the Willie Mullins-trained mare, with jockey Paul Townend always keeping Lossiemouth prominent before hitting to front after the third-last flight. She continued to cruise, pulling clear of the second-placed Gala Marceau by seven lengths at the line.
"She stamped her authority on it again there. She is just superior to the other mares at the moment. It's lovely to have her," said Townend.
"It was a good test today. The only scare was up the side when Rachael was dropping back. I wanted to pop and she (Lossiemouth) had a cut at it."
Many have been hopeful that Lossiemouth will be campaigned in open company next season and Mullins confirmed these thoughts, saying: "Off that gallop, it was a great performance. Paul wanted to keep the lid on, for want of a better word.
"I think she has done enough for the year. All being well, she will go for the Champion Hurdle next year."