Big Decisions to Make with Leading Irish Mares

The shape and depth of this Champion Hurdle is going to depend on the decision made by connections of Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth, two of the leading mares in the Ireland and UK.

Should connections opt for the obvious route of the Mares’ Hurdle, they will be one of the favourites to land the day one contest. However, given their ability, the Champion Hurdle must be under serious consideration from both camps this season.

Brighterdaysahead Has Had Big Success in Ireland

Trained by Gordon Elliott, Brighterdaysahead has won all three of her races this season, and is now the 13/8 favourite in the betting on horse racing for the Mares’ Hurdle. She will be bidding to go one place better than she did in 2024 at the meeting.

After two victories over State Man, it is easy to see why some pundits have selected Brighterdaysahead as one of their horse racing betting tips for the Champion Hurdle. She defeated the defending champion by just under a length at Punchestown in the Grade One Morgiana Hurdle, while last time out at Leopardstown, she beat him by over 30 lengths in the Neville Hotels Hurdle.

The six-year-old mare now has an official rating of 163 and remains open to improvement, as this is just her second season over hurdles. Her only defeat came in the 2024 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle when she had to settle for the runner-up spot behind Golden Ace.

Only three mares in the last 30 years have won the Champion Hurdle, but those victories have come in recent years with Annie Power (2016), Epatante (2020) and Honeysuckle (2021 and 2022).

Lossiemouth Needs to Bounce Back from Christmas Hurdle Defeat

At 160 in the official ratings, Lossiemouth is also considered one of the best hurdlers on both sides of the Irish Sea. She has been victorious in seven of her nine appearances over obstacles so far.

Willie Mullins’ runner won the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2024. She was sent off as a red-hot favourite for the race, and she justified her odds, scoring by three lengths. Since then, she has prevailed in two more Grade One contests, with wins coming in the Mares’ Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival and the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

The six-year-old was beaten on her latest appearance, finishing second behind former Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill at Kempton in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle. Although that defeat may put her connections off a rematch with the unbeaten hurdler at the Festival in March, she was not far behind him, losing by just over two lengths.

Only one horse in history has successfully defended their Mares’ Hurdle crown and that was Quevega, who won the race six times running. Mullins may lean towards the mares’ race once again as he bids for a record-extending 11th success in the contest.

The 2025 Champion Hurdle takes place on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival at 15:30. Declarations for the Championship race will be made 48 hours before the day one feature.