Willie Mullins 'not that disappointed' by Lossiemouth's Christmas Hurdle run with Cheltenham repeat bid among two options

Willie Mullins believes Lossiemouth will be much sharper for her runner-up effort behind Constitution Hill at Kempton and has not ruled out having another crack at the winner in the Champion Hurdle.

Lossiemouth was beaten for just the second time in the Christmas Hurdle when finishing two and a half lengths behind Nicky Henderson's Champion Hurdle scorer in the Grade 1 event.

Paddy Power eased Lossiemouth to 7-1 (from 15-8) for the Unibet Champion Hurdle and she is now the 6-4 favourite (from 3) for the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle over 2m4f.

The Rich and Susannah Ricci-owned five-year-old will run next in the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham on January 25, a race she won last year and a potential option for Constitution Hill, or the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on February 2.

Mullins said: "Lossiemouth just got taken off her feet. She hasn't run over that trip at that pace since the Triumph Hurdle and we've been trying to settle her since then, because she ran away with Paul [Townend] at the top of the Hill in the Triumph. She hasn't been going that pace over the first mile and a half and she will be sharper next time.

"We'll stick to the plan for the moment. She'll run in the International at Cheltenham or in the Irish Champion Hurdle but we'll get another run into her before any decisions are made.

"I know she has enough speed and pace, she has the pedigree for it, but we've been settling her, and all of her runs have been around two-and-a-half miles, without the early pace. It was a funeral pace in the Hatton's Grace, so when a horse is used to that, she just got caught that way. She'll have learned a lot and we'll have her sharper again.

"I loved the way she finished her race. A lot of people passed the comment that it was the first time Constitution Hill got four slaps of the persuader – he might never have had one before. I know she had the run beforehand and he hadn't but I'm not that disappointed. I took the fact she ran him the whole way to the line as not too bad, given she fell out the back of the television [early on]."

Ballyburn (centre): was beaten by Sir Gino (right) in the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at KemptonCredit: Edward Whitaker

A step up in trip beckons for Ballyburn, who was beaten seven and a half lengths by Sir Gino in the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase over two miles at Kempton, while Mullins is expecting improvement from Gaelic Warrior following his reappearance second to the race-fit Solness in the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown.

Mullins said: "Sir Gino is just an out-and-out two-miler, he has the Flat pedigree and is bred to run on the Flat, whereas our fellow is bred to be a three-miler but people were counting him as a Champion Hurdle horse before we made the decision to go over fences. Now it just looks like he wants a trip.

"Gaelic Warrior just blew up and came again, he stayed on. He was second to a horse who was mad fit from several runs this season, and a very brave and good ride from JJ Slevin. It paid off for him."

Read more . . .

'Form is temporary, class is permanent' - Nicky Henderson reflects on Constitution Hill's comeback Kempton victory 

Irritation gives way to elation as Constitution Hill and his team prove the doubters wrong 

Nicky Henderson waxes lyrical as 'frightening' Sir Gino slams Ballyburn on stunning chasing debut 

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