RICH RICCI has thrown doubt on Lossiemouth’s participation in next week’s Champion Hurdle.
The leading owner said it will be a ‘late call’ as regards whether the six-year-old will take on Constitution Hill or attempt to defend her title in the Mares’ Hurdle earlier on the card.
Lossiemouth’s Cheltenham target is yet to be decided[/caption]
Trainer Willie Mullins has campaigned her towards the Champion all winter, but she was beaten by Constitution Hill at Kempton on Boxing Day and suffered a heavy fall at the Dublin Racing Festival.
With Brighterdayshead now rerouted to the Champion Hurdle from the Mares’, the temptation is there for Ricci and Mullins to dodge the big one at the Festival.
Following his comments on Wednesday night at Sun Racing’s Cheltenham Preview, Lossiemouth was eased out to 6-1 for the Champion Hurdle and was cut into 11-8 from 7-2 for the Mares’ Hurdle, while she is odds-on across the board in non-runner no-bet markets.
Ricci said: “She disappointed at Christmas and she had a horrible fall at Leopardstown in a race where we really didn’t learn anything.
“We had a chat with Willie on Tuesday night, she’s been left in both races and I think we’ll wait and make a call at the weekend.
“Paul chose to ride State Man at Leopardstown and I’d like to see who he is going to ride in the Champion.
“I know it will be difficult for him to get off State Man, he won the Champion last year, but who he chooses to ride is a factor.
“I’m not embarrassed to say we’ve campaigned her as a Champion Hurdle horse and it hasn’t worked out.
“UItimately, it will be Willie’s decision and we’ll have some input and make it over the weekend.
“She has got one more piece of work to do so we’ll see how she goes. Remember, she is only six, she is still a young horse.”
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