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Willie Mullins confirmed star mare Lossiemouth will head to the Mares' Hurdle instead of taking on stablemate State Man and Constitution Hill at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

Last year's Triumph Hurdle heroine looked as good as ever when an effortless nine-and-a-half length winner over Love Envoi in the Grade 1 Unibet Hurdle (International) last month, a performance that had seen some speculation surrounding a potential tilt at the Champion Hurdle back at Prestbury Park next month. However, Mullins firmly put those questions to bed when speaking at his Closutton yard on Monday, confirming her participation in the Mares' Hurdle, a race in which she is currently a general 8/15 chance on the opening day of the Festival.

Mullins said: "Lossiemouth hasn't done anything wrong. I know a lot of people want her to go down the Champion Hurdle route, but I'm not even sure if there wasn't a Mares' Hurdle, we'd go down that route with a five-year-old.

"In my lifetime a five-year-old usually wins once every 30 years and usually a bad year and this doesn't look like it's going to be a bad year for the Champion Hurdle. I don't think the five-year-olds are physically strong enough.

"She did everything right the other day, maybe she needs longer, she'll have other days to go at the Champion Hurdle. We'll let State Man soften up Constitution Hill first and leave the door open for her!"