'The best horse didn't win' - Luckless Lossiemouth beaten by stablemate Gala Marceau

Lossiemouth is still favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle despite being beaten at 1-3 by stablemate Gala Marceau. That, in itself, tells a lot of the story.

This was X-rated viewing for odds-on backers as Paul Townend got shuffled back through the pack after jumping three out, with the fellow Rich Ricci-owned 125-1 outsider Jourdefete falling into his lap and costing his more esteemed stablemate valuable ground.

After plan A came a cropper, Townend had to circle the entire field and Lossiemouth ran a huge race to get within two and a half lengths of Gala Marceau at the death. Hence she remains no bigger than 15-8 for the Triumph Hurdle. She lost her unbeaten record but her reputation remains intact.

A frustrated Ricci said: "Paul said the best horse didn’t win the race, although that’s not taking anything away from the winner because the winner was good the last day. Clearly when the race was starting we lost a furlong and we did because of my other horse in the race!

"I’m disappointed, but I think we’ve got a fine mare and Cheltenham will be a different story. It was a great performance to get back up but it’s disappointing nonetheless."

Mullins is now worried Lossiemouth had a harder race than he would have liked and wonders if it will have an effect on her Cheltenham chances.

The champion trainer said: "Paul got into a lot of trouble but the winner is a good filly and she's improving all the time. Paul thinks he was a little unlucky. He said to me he got done three times.

"I just hope it doesn't leave its mark that she had such a hard run from the third-last home. She put in a huge effort for a juvenile filly and that might just leave a mark. That's what I'm really worried about and I would have been happier if Paul had maybe just been hands and heels. The writing was on the wall, so what was the point in hitting her? He has to have a go to try and win but to me unless Danny's filly made a mistake at the last he wasn't going to get to that one."

Danny Mullins celebrates Grade 1 victory on Gala MarceauCredit: Patrick McCann

With all the commotion about Lossiemouth, it was easy to forget about the winner. She is improving fast and she was cut to 7-2 for the Triumph Hurdle afterwards by Paddy Power. Mullins also has the 11-4 second favourite Blood Destiny.

Gala Marceau took a big step forward from her Irish debut when beaten seven and a half lengths by Lossiemouth and a similar sort of leap at the festival would put her right in the Triumph picture.

Mullins said of the winner: "We thought she had every chance coming here today if anything happened to Lossiemouth.

"Lossiemouth had been working well at home but Gala Marceau probably had more scope for improvement."

The rematch at Cheltenham will be fascinating, especially with Blood Destiny in there too. A fourth Triumph Hurdle for Mullins looks a forgone conclusion at this stage, but figuring out which juvenile will provide him with it is the tricky part.

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