Ridden by Paul Townend, the classy mare was winning for the third time at the festival, having also win the JCB Triumph Hurdle in 2023.

The daughter of Great Pretender was a seven and a half length winner over stable companion Jade De Grugy (5/1) and Danny Mullins.

When asked about the decision to reroute Lossiemouth to the Mares’ Hurdle  instead of the initial plan, the Unibet Champion Hurdle, Willie Mullins explained:

“As a trainer, and a professional, I didn’t see the work to run her in a Champion Hurdle, which disappointed me on the day, but we had the alternative to come here and that has worked.

“You have to look at Rich Ricci’s team which hasn’t had a great season this season. We all gauge ourselves by Cheltenham. I wasn’t sure he had a live chance of a winner, but she was a live chance of a winner so made the decision to change races.

“I was disappointed to change our mind on a two year plan, but it was the correct decision for the connections.

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Running in the colours of Charlie McCarthy from Fermoy, five-year-old ran out a ready length and three-quarters winner under Paul Townend.

The runner-up William Munny, ridden by Seán Flanagan for Barry Connell, carried the same colours in which Michael O’Sullivan achieved his most notable victory, when winning this race with Marine Nationale two years ago.

Reacting to the win, successful handler Mullins said:

“It’s wonderful. We sent a good team to try and win it, so I’m delighted we did. He looks to be some sort of a horse; the team of horses I had there, any year I’d say they’d be good enough to try and go close in that race, and they were spread out like Brown’s cows behind the first two.

“I think a faster pace suits his jumping better. He is like a chaser, but should he do that or stay over hurdles? I don’t know. We’ll see. We’ll probably have a go over fences at the end of the season and see what he’s like, and if Paul is happy to go chasing with him.”

For the Lisgoold rider it was a 35th Cheltenham Festival success, and the 104th for Willie Mullins.

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The opening contest on day one is the Grade 1 Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle over 2 miles 87 yards. Named this year in honour of the recently deceased Lombardstown, Co Cork, rider, the race will be poignant coming so shortly after the jockey’s death just a few weeks ago.

Champion handler Willie Mullins is responsible for half the 12-runner field, with main stable jockey Paul Townend unsurprisingly choosing the race favourite Kopek Des Bordes. Owned by Charles McCarthy in Fermoy, the French-bred son of No Risk At All jumped very poorly first time out over hurdles at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival.

He improved his hurdling significantly between then and the Dublin Racing Festival, where according to Race iQ he gained 10.72 lengths while jumping, and was the only horse over the two-day’s at Leopardstown to go sub 4 minutes over obstacles.

Romeo Coolio was runner-up in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in 2024, and comes to Prestbury Park this season with wins at Down Royal last November and a Leopardstown Grade 1 at Christmas.

Salvador Mundi, the mount of Patrick Mullins, who previously finished second to Sir Gino in his native France, has a Tipperary maiden and a Punchestown Grade 2 to his name.

William Munny would be a fitting winner of this year’s renewal of the race. The listed novice winner at Punchestown will be ridden by Seán Flanagan, and will carry the colours of owner/trainer Barry Connell, the same colours worn by Michael O’Sullivan in 2023 when winning the ‘Supreme’ aboard Marine Nationale.

Despite Willie Mullins’ Closutton team being responsible for 50% of the field, the trainer has only won the race twice in the last six years (2021 Appreciate It and Klassical Dream 2019). He is, however, the race’s most successful current trainer with seven wins – Tourist Attraction (1995), Ebaziyan (2007), Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015), Klassical Dream (2019) and Appreciate It (2021).

The race, previously known as the Gloucestershire Hurdle, has been won by Irish-trained raiders on 44 occasions, and by the French once. Of the 16 divisions from 1952-59, Vincent O’Brien won 10 renewals. Ireland also kept a stranglehold on the race for seven years
from 1977-83 and has won 15 of the last 23 runnings

1:20pm Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y

1 Funiculi Funicula (FR) 5 11 7 Michael A.O’Riordan/Séamus Hennessy W. P. Mullins Brian Hayes
2 Irancy (FR) 7 11 7 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Mark Walsh
3 Karbau (FR) 5 11 7 Barnane Stud,Partner & Temple Bloodstock W. P. Mullins Sean O’Keeffe
4 Karniquet (FR) h 5 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud W. P. Mullins Danny Mullins
5 Kopek des Bordes (FR) h 5 11 7 Monabeg Investments Limited W. P. Mullins P. Townend
6 Romeo Coolio 6 11 7 KTDA Racing Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
7 Salvator Mundi (FR) h,ts 5 11 7 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Mr P. W. Mullins
8 Sky Lord 6 11 7 Mr Basil Holian Henry de Bromhead Darragh O’Keeffe
9 Tripoli Flyer (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr Ismail El Magdoub Fergal O’Brien Jonathan Burke
10 Tutti Quanti (FR) 5 11 7 Mr Colm Donlon Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
11 William Munny (IRE) h 7 11 7 Mr Barry Connell Barry Connell Seán Flanagan
12 Workahead (IRE) 7 11 7 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead Rachael Blackmore

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This year is the 18th running of the race, which Irish trainers have dominated since its inception – 14 of the 17 previous winners were trained in Ireland.

A Grade 1 race since 2015, the Mares’ Hurdle was won an incredible six consecutive years by Quevega, bettering the previous Cheltenham Festival record of five consecutive wins held by Golden Miller (1932 to 1936).

Willie Mullins has won 10 of the 17 editions of the race to date and saddles the favourite and last season’s winner, Lossiemouth, and second favourite in the betting, Jade De Grugy.

While the early season plan had been to contest the opening day feature, the Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle, with Lossiemouth, connections of the grey mare decided last weekend to stick to her won sex in the almost two and a half-mile contest.

Jade De Grugy and Gala Marceau will carry the colours of Scottish owner Kenny Alexander, who previously won this race twice with Honeysuckle (2020 and 2023).

3:20pm Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y

1 Casa No Mento 7 11 5 LRK Racing & Willy Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies
2 Dysart Enos (IRE) 7 11 5 The Good Stock Syndicate Fergal O’Brien Jonathan Burke
3 Gala Marceau (FR) h 6 11 5 Mr K. Alexander W. P. Mullins Brian Hayes
4 Jade de Grugy (FR) 6 11 5 Mr K. Alexander W. P. Mullins Danny Mullins
5 Jetara (IRE) p 7 11 5 Mr G. McGrath Mrs J. Harrington Sam Ewing
6 Joyeuse (FR) 6 11 5 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
7 July Flower (FR) 6 11 5 Mr Duncan Angove Henry de Bromhead Rachael Blackmore
8 Kala Conti (FR) 5 11 5 Robcour Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
9 Lossiemouth (FR) 6 11 5 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins P. Townend
10 Queens Gamble (IRE) 7 11 5 Mr A Frost and Mr E Galvin Harry Derham Paul O’Brien
11 Take No Chances (IRE) 7 11 5 Mr Garry Wilson Dan Skelton Harry Skelton

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The J.P. McManus-owned son of Capital Stud’s Martinborough won last season’s Triumph Hurdle, but returns this year as a novice chaser.

A win in a beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse was soon followed up with success in the Grade 1 Goffs Arkle Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.

The Race iQ information shows that Majborough is a better chaser than hurdler. His Jump Index over the smaller obstacles last season was 7.7, while his overall Jump Index over fences to date is 9.0 out of 10.

Jockey Mark Walsh will hope to maintain the good recent record of trainer Willie Mullins in the My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase. The Closutton wins in the last two years, with Gaelic Warrior in 2024 and El Fabiolo in 2023, were both ridden by Paul Townend.

Touch Me Not, trained by Gordon Elliott for Gigginstown House Stud, was 9 lengths behind  Majborough at Leopardstown last month.

Irish-based handlers have tasted success in this race 7 of the last 10 years, with Henry de Bromhead (Put The Kettle On in 2020) adding to Mullins’ six victories.

2:00pm My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y

1 Jango Baie (FR) 6 11 7 Countrywide Park Homes Ltd Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
2 L’Eau du Sud (FR) ts 7 11 7 GMasonJHalesLHalesPHogarthSirAFerguson Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
3 Majborough (FR) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Mark Walsh
4 Touch Me Not (IRE) 6 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
5 Only By Night (IRE) 7 11 0 Mrs J. M. Russell Gavin Cromwell Keith Donoghue

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Lossiemouth will skip a high-profile clash with Constitution Hill and Brighterdaysahead in Tuesday’s Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival 2025, after connections confirmed her switch to the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle on the same day.

The Willie Mullins-trained mare is already a dual Festival winner, landing the Mares’ Hurdle in 2024 and the Triumph Hurdle in 2023. While she had been on course for a Champion Hurdle bid throughout the season, a recent heavy fall in the Irish Champion Hurdle forced a rethink. On Sunday morning, owners Rich and Susannah Ricci opted to target a second Mares’ crown.

Champion Hurdle Set for Seven-Runner Showdown

Lossiemouth’s absence leaves a seven-runner field for the Champion Hurdle, headlined by reigning champion State Man, who sports first-time cheekpieces. The unbeaten Constitution Hill, trained by Nicky Henderson, remains the odds-on favourite, while Gordon Elliott’s rising star Brighterdaysahead adds further class to the lineup.

Golden Ace, trained by Jeremy Scott, has been rerouted from the Mares’ to the Champion, joining Burdett Road, King Of Kingsfield, and Winter Fog in Tuesday’s feature.

Lossiemouth Odds-On for Mares’ Hurdle Repeat

Lossiemouth is favourite to land back-to-back wins in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, where 11 runners have been declared. Her stablemate Jade De Grugy is second in the betting for what looks like another strong renewal.

Mullins Dominates Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Willie Mullins will run six of the 12 declared for the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, with Kopek Des Bordes heading the market and wearing a first-time hood. Paul Townend takes the ride, with other Mullins runners including Funiculi Funicula, Irancy, Karbau, Karniquet, and Salvator Mundi.

Other key runners include William Munny, Romeo Coolio, and British hope Tutti Quanti, ridden by Harry Cobden.

Majborough Leads Arkle Betting

In the My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy, only five go to post. Majborough is the strong favourite for Mullins and JP McManus. British hopes rest with L’Eau Du Sud, trained by Dan Skelton, with Jango Baie, Touch Me Not, and Only By Night completing the field.

Full Fields for Ultima and Juvenile Handicap

The Ultima Handicap Chase features a full field of 24, including Lucinda Russell’s pair Whistle Stop Tour and Myretown. Derek Fox has opted for the former, with Patrick Wadge aboard the latter.

The Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle has also attracted a full field of 22, while 18 will line up for the Princess Royal National Hunt Chase after field size limits came into effect.

Champion Hurdle 2025 Declarations:

• Burdett Road – Sam Twiston-Davies

• Constitution Hill – Nico de Boinville

• King Of Kingsfield – Danny Gilligan

• State Man – Paul Townend

• Winter Fog – Brian Hayes

• Brighterdaysahead – Jack Kennedy

• Golden Ace – Lorcan Williams

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Declarations:

• Kopek Des Bordes – Paul Townend

• Funiculi Funicula – Brian Hayes

• Irancy – Mark Walsh

• Karbau – Sean O’Keeffe

• Karniquet – Danny Mullins

• Salvator Mundi – Patrick Mullins

• Romeo Coolio – Jack Kennedy

• Sky Lord – Darragh O’Keeffe

• Tripoli Flyer – Jonathan Burke

• Tutti Quanti – Harry Cobden

• William Munny – Sean Flanagan

• Workahead – Rachael Blackmore

Arkle Challenge Trophy Declarations:

• Majborough – Mark Walsh

• L’Eau Du Sud – Harry Skelton

• Jango Baie – Nico de Boinville

• Touch Me Not – Jack Kennedy

• Only By Night – Keith Donoghue

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Declarations:

• Lossiemouth – Paul Townend

• Jade De Grugy – Danny Mullins

• Casa No Mento – Sam Twiston-Davies

• Dysart Enos – Jonathan Burke

• Gala Marceau – Brian Hughes

• Jetara – Sam Ewing

• Joyeuse – Nico de Boinville

• July Flower – Rachael Blackmore

• Kala Conti – Jack Kennedy

• Queens Gamble – Paul O’Brien

• Take No Chances – Harry Skelton

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The Willie Mullins-trained inmate will contest the day’s featured €100,000 Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase.

This will be Energumene’s first race for 593-days, not having been seen since his win in the Grade 1 William Hill Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival in 2023.

The French-bred son of Denham Road bids to claim a third victory in the Grade 2 Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase, following previous triumphs in the race in 2021 and 2022.

This year’s renewal of the race will boast the largest field since 2018, with eight runners set to participate, with six of them coming from Mullins’ powerful Closutton stable.

Mullins hoping to extend record

Energumene will be reunited with Cork jockey Paul Townend as he aims to extend Mullins’ incredible record in the race, having trained the winner of the Hilly Way Chase every year since 2007, with the exception of 2012 and 2018.

Among the other Mullins representatives will be Hunters Yarn and four other Grade 1 winners Dinoblue, Ferny Hollow, Appreciate It, and Blue Lord.

Patrick Mullins, Ireland’s champion amateur jockey, will ride Ferny Hollow; Mark Walsh will be aboard Dinoblue; Danny Mullins will partner Appreciate It, and Brian Hayes will take the mount on Hunters Yarn.

Despite his historic dominance in the race, and the strength of his participants for this season’s contest, Team Mullins will face a strong challenge from both the Joseph O’Brien and John Queally yards.

O’Brien’s Carriganóg team will be represented by Grade 1 William Hill Champion Chase winner at last season’s Punchestown Festival, Banbridge.

Queally will have the recent Cork winner The Banger Doyle in the field.

Con O’Keeffe aims for another Mares’ Novice Chase win

The Grade 2 Coolmore NH Sires Order Of St George Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase at Cork Racecourse on Sunday has attracted a field of eight runners.

Last season’s successful handler with Silent Approach at 33/1, Con O’Keeffe, will be represented this time around by Kilbarry Saint.

Zenta, third in the race last year, will again contest the Grade 2 event, and will be joined by sable companion Karia Des Blaises.

The 2023 winning rider Danny Mullins will partner A Law Of Her Own from the Peter Fahey yard, while Henry de Bromhead will be represented by Nara.

This race has been won by mares of the calibre of Shattered Love (2017) and Vroom Vroom Mag (2014) in the past.

Six runners contest Grade 3 Stayers Novice Hurdle

The Grade 3 Singletons Supervalu Stayers Novice Hurdle, which has been won by eight different trainers in the past eight years, will have six runners on Sunday.

Ther Gordon Elliott-trained Minella Sixo may be the headline act, but Willie Mullins will be double-handed with Luckinthecity and Just For Love.

Cork-based trainers make up the remainder of the field: Jonathan Sweeney’s Churchroad Prince; recent 40/1 winner Therellbguddaysyet from Michael O’Connor’s stable, and Kilworth’s Desmond Kenneally has Pray Tell in the line-up.

The opening race of the seven-race card gets underway at Cork Racecourse, Mallow, at  12.03pm with the Bar One Racing 3YO Maiden Hurdle.

Racing will conclude at 3.25pm with the 24-runner Greenvalley Transport Novice Handicap Hurdle.

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The champion National Hunt conditioner training the winner of a major race at an Irish racing festival was no surprise, but what was a shock was the 50/1 price of the winner in the hands of English amateur rider David Dunsdon.

Right at the bottom of the handicap, carrying 10-13, Dunsdon came late and wide on the eventual winner in the colours of Coldunell Limited to take victory in the opening day feature by three and a half lengths.

Another big-priced runner, Baltic Bird (25/1), ridden by County Cork jockey Johnny Barry for owner/trainer Bill Durkan. Spasiba (8/1), another Closutton runner, this one the mount of Jody Townend was third one and a half lengths behind the runner-up.

Eleven-year-old Lord Erskine was fourth for trainer Harry Rogers at 33/1 another one and three-quarters of a length back in fourth place.

Lot Of Joy (4/1f), another Willie Mullins-trained runner, ridden by his son, Patrick, eventually finished in 9th place.

Danny Mullins and Richard O’Brien claim 2024 Festival opener

The well-supported Feud (16/5) was an easy winner of the opening The Galmont Hotel and The Galway Bay Hotel Novice Hurdle.

Ridden by Danny Mullins for Richard O’Brien, the winner was well placed throughout the 2 miles 130 yards contest, before putting three and a half lengths between himself and the runner-up Mordor (15/2), the mount of Sam Ewing for the Gordon Elliott stable. Pigeon House (4/1), who was close to the front of the field throughout crossed the finishing line in third place, a further six and a half lengths behind.

The race favourite, the French-bred Willie Mullins-trained Sysko (9/4f) was never a threat, and finished in fourth place on his Irish debut.

County Meath-trained double on day one

Father and son Matthew and Kevin Smith teamed up to easily win the Easyfix Handicap Hurdle over 2 miles 130 yards.

The Co Meath outfit claimed the win Son Of Hypnos (16/1) who was a facile 10-length winner over Clonburg Bridge (16/1), with Vischio (10/1) and Harley Street (17/2) taking third and fourth places respectively.

Smith’s fellow Co Meath-based conditioner Jack Davison also returned to the winner’s enclosure, with Artful Approach (7/1), in The Clayton Hotel Galway Handicap.

In the hands of five-pound claimer James Ryan, the chestnut gelded son of Mehmas came on the outside of the field in the dying stages of the 7-furlong 50-80 Handicap, to take the win by one and a half lengths, with a short-head separating the runner-up and third, Cuban Confusion (10/1) and Louiescall (10/1). The 100/30 race favourite, Avatar Jet, crossed the line back in 12th place.

Rock Of Cashel loses maiden tag

Rock Of Cashel (3/1), eighth on debut at The Curragh last month, broke quickly at Ballybrit today, and was at the head of the field for the duration of the seven furlongs race.

When Wayne Lordan asked the son of Wootton Bassett to take his race, the two-year-old colt powered up the Galway hill and take a two and a quarter length win from another 3/1 shot Admiral Churchill under Billy Lee for the Paddy Twomey stable, with Joseph O’Brien’s Viking Invasion (7/1) next home, a further length behind.

The Dermot Weld-handled favourite Truth Be Told (13/8) finished fourth, another length and a half back.

Tony Mullins and Rory Cleary teamed up for success in The Grá Chocolates Handicap over 1 mile 4 furlongs and 84 yards at 7.45pm.

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The Lisgoold, Co Cork rider won the Coolmore N.H. Sires Bolshoi Ballet Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle, as expected, aboard Lossiemouth (2/11f), who ends the season unbeaten.

She lead home a Closutton 1-2-3 with Gala Marceau runner-up under Danny Mullins, with Ashroe Diamond in her final career race, third for Patrick Mullins.

The six-time champion rider Paul Townend followed this up two races later when Kargese (9/4f) came swiftly on the stands’ side to claim the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle, both successes for champion trainer Willie Mullins.

Bottler’secret was second for Gavin Cromwell and Seán Flanagan, with Nurburgring next home for J.J. Slevin and Joseph O’Brien.

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Ridden by Paul Townend, the Willie Mullins-handled favourite in the four-runner race, ran out a two length winner over Irish Point (7/2), who lead for most of the two-mile contest.

State Man, a seven-year-old son of Doctor Dino, had tracked the leader for most of the way, before leading approaching the final flight of hurdles.

Irish Point and Jack Kennedy made little impression on the eventual winner after the last hurdle, while Colonel Mustard (20/1) came home third, 20 lengths further back.

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