Willie Mullins eyes Grand National Festival entry for horse ‘in a different class’ to rivals

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WILLIE MULLINS is considering a shock Grand National Festival entry for a superstar mare who’s ‘in a different class’ to her rivals.

Lossiemouth made easy work of the others in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival earlier this month.

Horse and jockey clearing a hurdle during a race.

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Owner Rich Ricci and Mullins ultimately decided the Mares was the right option for the awesome grey after her crunching Leopardstown fall the run before.

As it turned out she very well might have been crowned the Champion Hurdler had she gone in the day one blockbuster.

In the most dramatic Cheltenham Festival race ever, Constitution Hill fell four out when cruising before State Man hit the deck at the last when five lengths clear and with the race at his mercy.

That left the path clear for 25-1 Golden Ace to win with Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead completely out of puff.

No one could have predicted that carnage – but it seems Grade 1s in open company are very much Lossiemouth’s target for the rest of the season.

And the first leg of a quickfire double could come at Aintree in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle.

Mullins’ son Patrick said the race is ‘under consideration’ for the crack hurdler.

And should she go it’s likely punters could be treated to a mouthwatering rematch of their Christmas Hurdle showdown.

Asked if his old man will run Lossiemouth at Aintree next week, Patrick said: “We’ll have to consider it. She came out of Cheltenham well.

“Annie Power went there and put in her signature performance.

“Lossiemouth won over two-and-a-half miles in the Hatton’s Grace earlier in the season at Fairyhouse.

“It’s definitely under consideration – the decision hasn’t been made yet.

“But Willie being Willie there might be an entry, all right!

“She didn’t get a hard race at Cheltenham and there is that time period this year where you could go to Aintree and then onto Punchestown again.

“So we’ll look at it.”

Bookies have Lossiemouth 7-4 for next Thursday’s race, with Constitution Hill, who could also do the Aintree-Punchestown double, 10-11 fav.

Brighterdaysahead is 5-1 while Stayers’ Hurdle king Bob Olinger is 14s and Langer Dan 16s.

Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “We’re very excited about next Thursday’s William Hill Aintree Hurdle with the prospect of Constitution Hill, Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead all reportedly set to turn up.

“We make Constitution Hill a 10-11 shot to regain his 2023 crown, but it’ll be interesting to see how popular he is coming here off the back of his fall in the Champion Hurdle.

“Lossiemouth is next in at 7-4, and on paper, this race looks made for her.

“We expect her to be a popular alternative to the odds-on favourite, with this track and trip set to be right up her street for her rematch with Constitution Hill.

“Brighterdaysahead is next in the betting at 5-1, and that could be ripe for shortening, with the Elliott mare returning to the scene of her brilliant victory at the meeting last year.”