Young pretenders Sir Gino and Lossiemouth served notice to their respective champion stable companions that they are ready to compete at the highest level.
On Saturday, Sir Gino maintained his unbeaten record over hurdles with a stylish victory in the Gr1 BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.
The 2024 BetMGM UK Fighting Fifth Hurdle boasted the biggest field since 2006 on Saturday at Newcastle Racecourse (Pic – Newcastle Racecourse)
Re-routed from a prospective chasing career following the injury setback sustained by his unbeaten stablemate Constitution Hill, Nicky Henderson’s charge was keen through the race but went to the front on the bridle two out.
The only question was what the winner would find after the last under Nico De Boinville and the answer was plenty, the four-year-old bounding eight lengths clear of the race-fit Lump Sum in second.
Henderson noted: “I think the first reaction is relief. We’ve not pretended we didn’t believe he was very good, and he looked it there. You have got to say watching this today you might be more inclined to stay over hurdles and leave chasing for next season, but let’s see. He is a very good jumper no matter what you put in front of him, a fence, or a hurdle.”
Last season’s Group 1 winning novice hurdler Mystical Power may have disappointed at Newcastle, but his Willie Mullins trained stablemate Lossiemouth was the toast of the town at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
The five-year-old mare put herself firmly in the Champion Hurdle picture after a sublime performance over defending champ Teahupoo in the Gr1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.
Billed as the Stayers’ Hurdle winner against the new Champion Hurdle favourite over a perfect intermediate trip, this proved very one-sided on ground plenty quick enough for the former.
With three of the four runners, trainer Gordon Elliott held the tactical key to the 2m4f contest. However, despite Beacon Edge setting the fractions and Maxxum sitting on Lossiemouth’s girth early on, neither of which made Paul Townend’s life any easier on the keen-running 4-7 favourite, their combined efforts weren’t nearly enough. She was simply far too good.
Sam Ewing led two from home on Teahupoo, but Paul Townend was waiting in behind for as long as he could. Finally, inside the wings of the final hurdle, he put his rival out of its misery. Lossiemouth pinged the last and cruised nearly four lengths clear under a motionless Townend.
“Once it came down to a speed race, I had no doubt we were going to win,” Mullins mused after securing his fourth Hatton’s Grace. She has gears, she is bred for speed and that always comes in handy when they are going steady. I couldn’t believe they went so slow.”
Elliott expressed himself delighted with Teahupoo, suggesting time might prove he faced a particularly formidable task.
Bookmakers reacted by hardening Lossiemouth into 7-4 (from 5-2) favouritism for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, a race for which Mullins also has reigning champ State Man (4/1) as well, with Sir Gino a general 4/1 shot.
