Triumph favourite Lossiemouth set for true test - but Paul Townend is unsure

Monday: 1.10 Leopardstown
Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m | 3yo | RTV/RTE2

Triumph Hurdle favourite Lossiemouth heads a team of five for Willie Mullins and is likely to face many of her potential Cheltenham rivals, with three of the top four in that market declared. Mullins is bidding to win the race for the fifth time, with his last success coming with Bapaume in 2016.

Lossiemouth was an impressive winner of a Grade 3 juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse this month, seeing off her much-fancied stablemate Zarak The Brave. Paul Townend takes the ride on the French recruit, who produced what was one of the best juvenile performances of the season on her stable debut.

Her greatest threat may come in the shape of Cougar, who is two from two over hurdles since joining Padraig Roche and was rated 92 on the Flat for Aidan O’Brien. Cougar has been saved for this race after winning at Down Royal, and also scored on yielding ground on his stable debut at Gowran Park. Roche also runs Sundial, who has 25 lengths to find on Lossiemouth following their previous meeting at Fairyhouse.

Daryl Jacob makes the trip to Ireland to ride the Joseph O’Brien-trained Nusret. He is another former Flat runner, who was rated 89 and was a comfortable winner on his hurdling debut at Punchestown last month and could also be a force to be reckoned with in the juvenile pecking order this season.

Mullins runs Gala Marceau for the first time. She won her last three outings in France for previous trainer Sylvain Dehez, including a hurdles victory over this distance at Compiegne. The €180,000 purchase Jourdefete will also make his stable debut for the champion trainer, having finished third in a bumper at Vichy in May. Mullins also runs Risk Belle, who was fifth behind Lossiemouth at Fairyhouse, as well as Aghaboy, who finished seventh on that occasion.

Mctigue has already won at Grade 2 level, having landed the Prix Georges de Talhouet-Roy Hurdle at Auteuil in October for his trainer Emmet Mullins. He disappointed at Grade 1 level at the same course in November and now makes his first appearance in Ireland after winning a maiden hurdle comfortably at Sedgefield on his stable debut.

War Correspondent (right): finished third at Cheltenham last timeCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Ray Cody-trained War Correspondent was third in a Grade 2 juvenile hurdle at Cheltenham last month. His only other hurdles outing was a winning one at Punchestown, and Jack Kennedy takes the ride for the first time. The field is completed by John O'Neill's Pink Fire Lilly, who was eighth of ten behind Lossiemouth at Fairyhouse.

What they say

Emmet Mullins, trainer of Mctigue
He seems to be in good order. He came back to us from France a little bit under the weather but hopefully we can put a line through that. He’s running under a Grade 2 penalty but we didn’t really have many options.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Aghaboy, Jourdefete, Lossiemouth, Gala Marceau and Risk Belle
Aghaboy won at Ballinrobe and Listowel before finishing down the field behind Lossiemouth at Fairyhouse. His form is not good enough to win but with a change of tactics he could go well. Jourdefete was third in an AQPS race in France and is having his first run for us here. He is a backward type who will gain valuable experience today. Lossiemouth easily beat Zarak The Brave on her first run for us at Fairyhouse. Paul has picked her today and we think she has every chance of going in again. Gala Marceau has her first run for us. She won a Flat race and two hurdles in France, and that experience could see her run a big race here. Risk Belle won two hurdles in France before finishing fifth in Lossiemouth’s race at Fairyhouse on her first run for us. She should improve from that and will have to if she is to get involved.

Padraig Roche, trainer of Cougar and Sundial
I’m looking forward to running both of them, I’m happy with how they’ve worked. We decided to wait with Cougar after Down Royal and it’s been so far, so good.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Nusret
We were due to run him in Britain earlier this month but the meeting was called off and this was the next opportunity available. It looks a good race.

Ray Cody, trainer of War Correspondent
He came back from Cheltenham in great form. I’ve been really happy with him. I think he’ll love the track and the ground should suit. It’s brilliant to have Jack Kennedy riding him.

Paul Townend, rider of Lossiemouth
To be honest I don’t know if I am on the right one here. I could be chasing my tail a little with these juveniles. She really impressed me when she went by me on Zarak The Brave at Fairyhouse. She was in control of the race from a long way out and I think she can only improve for that again. Gala Marceau has a big reputation and can’t be ruled out nor can Jourdefete. They go nicely at home.

Big-race previews:

12.45 Kempton: Champ v Paisley Park again: who comes out on top in a match of familiar foes?

1.20 Kempton: Nicholls pair McFabulous and Gelino Bello clash - but does Skelton hold the ace?

1.35 Wetherby: 'We hope he's still a Gold Cup horse' - Rowland Meyrick insight and key quotes

1.55 Kempton: Henderson on Constitution Hill: 'I'm buzzed up - but also desperately nervous'

2.20 Leopardstown: 'This has been the plan' - can classy Fil Dor bolster Arkle claims for Elliott?

2.30 Kempton: 'We haven't seen the best of him yet' - key trainer quotes for the King George

2.40 Limerick: 'He's done everything right' - Elliott and Mullins duel in Faugheen Novice Chase

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