Lossiemouth heading to Leopardstown after swerving Constitution Hill rematch

Lossiemouth will take aim at the Irish Champion Hurdle after connections opted against travelling to Cheltenham to clash with Constitution Hill again in the Unibet Hurdle on Saturday.

The pair, trained by Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson respectively, filled the first two places in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day and a rematch had been on the cards in the Grade Two heat at Prestbury Park.

However, Lossiemouth also holds an entry in next week’s Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and after Mullins warned on Wednesday a late call would be made, it appears that will be her destination.

“She’ll go for the Irish Champion Hurdle,” said Mullins.

“I thought we’ve been preparing her for two years for the Champion Hurdle and I wasn’t sure that another trip across the Irish Sea would suit with the weather closing in and the forecast.

“There were going to be travel complications and we didn’t need that.

“It’s better to stay at home and I’m happy enough to go to Leopardstown.”

Ireland will still have a challenger in the Gordon Elliott-trained Fils d’Oudairies, with Brentford Hope, Joyeux Machin and Spirits Bay completing the line-up.

On the absence of Constitution Hill’s big rival, Henderson said: “There’s no Lossiemouth and a bit of me was looking forward to another race against her and another bit was hoping she wouldn’t come.

“The ground isn’t a concern, but the weather is from Cheltenham’s point of view.

“There was enough said about last year, so we’re going to make up for it if we can.”

The Betfair Cotswold Chase will have a six-runner field, headed by Mouse Morris’ Gentlemansgame, who was last seen finishing third in the Savills Chase at Christmas, and Britain’s leading Gold Cup hope L’Homme Presse for Venetia Williams.

Henderson’s New Year’s Day scorer Chantry House lines up with Elliott’s cross-country specialist Delta Work in the field along with Stage Star and Tommie Beau.

Crambo and Strong Leader are the star names in the Betfair Cleeve Hurdle, for which eight have been declared, while Potters Charm leads the way in a field of seven for the Ais Novices’ Hurdle.

East India Dock is the general second-favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle and he will face nine rivals in the Grade Two Triumph Trial.