Lossiemouth and Cork's Paul Townend dominate opening day feature race - Champion Hurdle

Lossiemouth and Paul Townend produced an emphatic performance to win the Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday afternoon.

The decision to head for the bigger prize proved the right one as the mare maintained her unbeaten record in emphatic style.

After much deliberation over whether Willie Mullins would send her to defend the Mares’ Hurdle or head to Tuesday’s showpiece, Lossiemouth proved she is more than good enough to mix it in the Champion Hurdle on the biggest stage. 

Well backed into 7-5 favouritism, Lossiemouth stormed to a six-and-a-half-length success to deliver Mullins a sixth victory in the race. 

Paul Townend, who has been on board Lossiemouth for 15 of her 17 starts for Mullins, also landed his 39th Cheltenham Festival winner.

“She never turned up the last day at Leopardstown, but I knew going to the start today that she was much happier," Paul Townend said.

"She travelled much better, she was sweeter and kinder to herself.

”It’s easier to have belief in a horse that has as much ability as she does. 

"She turns up and she does her business. You look at her and she’s as calm as you like. 

"She’s been very good to me here with four wins at Cheltenham.” 

Earlier in the card flamboyant Fermoy owner Charlie McCarthy was denied victory by stablemate Kargese in a dramatic renewal of the Arkle Novice Chase at Cheltenham. 

A mistake at the last certainly cost him victory but Willie Mullins was full of praise for the runner up after a mid-season setback proved far from an ideal preparation.

Mullins said: “I thought Kopek ran brilliant and I thought Paul Townend gave him a fantastic ride in the circumstances. 

"If it wasn’t for the mistake at the last I think he would have won without coming off the bridle. I haven’t lost any faith in him at all. 

"We’ll be looking at Aintree and Punchestown, there’s plenty of options for him.” 

Kopek Des Bordes’ enthusiastic owner Charlie McCarthy had similar feelings to his trainer and was gracious in defeat, having 12 months earlier been celebrating Supreme Novices’ Hurdle glory.

McCarthy said: “As far as I’m concerned you must be gracious in defeat and victory. He’s a wonderful horse, he’s still in one piece and you’re going to see an awful lot more of him, I promise you that.” 

Day Two Meanwhile excitement is building in the village of Kilbrin this morning as the King brothers Conor and Daniel run Oscars Brother in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory in the colours of JP McManus on day two of Cheltenham. 

Conor only trains two horses but his stable star has already won a pair of Grade 2 races at Punchestown and Navan.

Trained by 29-year-old Connor King and ridden by his brother Daniel , Oscars Brother got off the mark over fences in Galway at the end of October and has progressed steadily since. He proved his class up in grade by taking the Grade 3 Florida Pearl Chase at Punchestown.

A progressive horse, jockey, and trainer were always going to make a great story, but it was made even better when legendary owner JP McManus purchased Oscars Brother - and kept the horse under the care of Connor King, allowing the family’s dream to continue.

Following the purchase by McManus he delivered another Grade 2 victory under a super confident ride from Daniel to win the high profile Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan. 

It seems that the Aintree Grand National is the long-term aim but expect a bold showing from Oscars Brother today.