Eagle-eyed punters noticed more suspicious market moves on the Betfair Exchange as Lossiemouth drifts in the Mares’ Hurdle market and gets backed for the Champion Hurdle.
Lossiemouth Backed For Champion Hurdle On Exchanges
Less than a week out from the Cheltenham Festival, we’re in full ‘Willie Mullins bingo’ territory as Lossiemouth’s plans for the meeting look all but confirmed.
Last year’s Mares’ Hurdle winner finally looks as if she could be running in the prestigious day one feature where the Champion Hurdle prize money looks too good to turn down.
Speaking at a Cheltenham Festival preview night just a couple of days ago, Rich Ricci said he still didn’t know what race his star mare is running in.
However, there was significant moves on the exchange on Thursday afternoon.
Lossiemouth was around 6.0 (5/1) to be one of the Champion Hurdle runners in the morning and has now been matched at a low of 3.95 (around 3/1). And there was also big moves in the Mares’ Hurdle market. She was then pushed out to as big as 6.2 (5/1), so has the decision been made?
WATCH: Lossiemouth Wins 2025 Mares’ Hurdle With Ease
Which Race SHOULD Lossiemouth Run In?
There’s no denying that Lossiemouth may be seen to best effect over further than 2miles but she loves it around Cheltenham and remains unbeaten after four attempts.
She won the 2023 Triumph Hurdle before going on to win a Unibet Hurdle and back-to-back Mares’ Hurdles. Many believe having a crack at the Champion Hurdle is worth the gamble and if she runs to her best she could easily take care of that opposition.
Lossiemouth may have lost to Brighterdaysahead last time over 2miles at the Dublin Racing Festival, but heading into Cheltenham there’s one clear difference. Gordon Elliott’s mare doesn’t produce her best efforts at Prestbury Park where on paper, Lossiemouth does.
As for others in the race, The New Lion who is owned by JP McManus has also won at Cheltenham twice so could be the Mullins star’s main threat.
Lossiemouth Career In Numbers
- Age: 7
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Sire: Great Pretender
- Runs: 17
- Wins: 14 (four at Cheltenham)
- Prize Money won: £908,183
If the classy mare does take her place in the Champion Hurdle, she would win a grand total of £253,215 if she was successful.
2026 Champion Hurdle Betting Odds
Note: These odds are correct at time of publishing and could be subject to change post-declarations
- The New Lion 2/1 (Dan Skelton)
- Brigtherdayahead 9/4 (Gordon Elliott)
- Lossiemouth 7/2 (Willie Mulllins)
- Golden Ace 13/2 (Jeremy Scott)
- Poniros 10/1 (Willie Mullins)
- Tutti Quanti 20/1 (Paul Nicholls)
- Anzadam 20/1 (Willie Mullins)
- Alexei 25/1 (Joe Tizzard)
- Workahead 100/1 (Henry De Bromhead)
