Money pours in for Willie Mullins superstar horse as punters bank on last-minute Cheltenham Festival switch

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MONEY has poured in for Willie Mullins’ superstar mare Lossiemouth – as punters bank on the trainer making a last-minute Cheltenham Festival switch.

With Brighterdaysahead confirmed for a blockbuster showdown with Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle, the door is open in the Mares’.

Jockey Paul Townend, trainer Willie Mullins, and winning horse Lossiemouth at the Fairyhouse Winter Festival.
Will Lossiemouth attempt to defend her Mares’ Hurdle crown with Brighterdaysahead going for the Champion Hurdle?

Lossiemouth won the Mares’ Hurdle easily last year and has been trained all season for the two-mile championship race.

But after a crushing fall against State Man last time out – and being outpaced by Constitution Hill at Christmas – punters think she might go back to defend her title.

Savvy punters were quick to take the odds-against non-runner no bet money on Lossiemouth on Monday morning.

And she has been punted off the boards for that race since going from 11-8 to 4-5 with some firms.

Cal Gildart of Ladbrokes said: “Willie Mullins said that Lossiemouth is a Champion Hurdle mare after she won last year’s Mares’ Hurdle, but following her fall at Leopardstown and the Brighterdaysahead news, the odds suggest that another Mares’ run might be her Cheltenham destiny in 2025.”

Ladbrokes themselves make Lossiemouth a 4-6 chance for the Mares’ with Mullins stablemate Jade De Grugy 7-4.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained July Flower is 4-1 while Mullins also has Kargese in at 6-1.

Mullins said the Champion Hurdle was still the plan after her devastating fall at the Dublin Racing Festival.

He said: “”Unless she’s injured, nothing changes.

“Unless Rich thinks differently we’re happy to go for the Champion Hurdle.”