WILLIE MULLINS was accused of ‘bottling it’ by some punters after swerving a rematch with Constitution Hill at Cheltenham.
The legendary trainer did not declare Lossiemouth for Saturday’s International Hurdle on Trials Day.
That leaves Nicky Henderson’s stable star a 1-10 chance to claim the Grade 2 worth over £70,000 to the winner.
Former Champion Hurdle king Consitution Hill is 29lbs better than anything else in the race, and anything less than a huge victory will come as a shock.
With Lossiemouth, who finished second to Con Hill at Kempton on Boxing Day, missing Trials Day she looks set to run in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown next weekend.
Punters were disappointed they weren’t being treated to another blockbuster head-to-head.
It looks like they will have to wait until the Festival proper to get that – even though Lossiemouth is set to take on the likes of State Man and Brighterdaysahead at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Reacting to the news Lossiemouth hadn’t been declared, one punter accused Mullins of ‘bottling it’.
Several others claimed the all-conquering trainer had backed down when faced with the might of Constitution Hill.
But the truth is the Mullins camp still think the unbeaten superstar could be vulnerable up the Cheltenham hill in March.
In the meantime, Con Hill could go off one of the shortest-priced horses in Cheltenham history.
Harry Derham’s Brentford Hope – owned by the aptly-named Optimists Syndicate – is 7-1 second-fav with Coral.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Willie Mullins costs punters thousands on 1-100 certainty after incredible end to Naas race ” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6366104212112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]But he has an absolute mountain to climb to get anywhere near Hendo’s monster, who is rated 175 vs Brentford Hope’s 146.
Even the 6lb extra Con Hill will have to carry is likely to make next to no difference.
Cal Gildart of Ladbrokes said: “After their meeting in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle, hopes were high that we’d get a Constitution Hill-Lossiemouth rematch on Trials Day.
“The latter’s absence on Saturday means the former looks set for a procession before they go head-to-head again in the Champion Hurdle.”
International Hurdle 2025 winner odds via Ladbrokes
1-10 Constitution Hill
7-1 Brentford Hope
20-1 Fils d’Oudairies
66-1 Joyeux Machin, Spirits Bay