TODAY’S function race is the Boodles Champion Hurdle and it’s fantastic to have Lossiemouth again right here to cement her standing as the very best two-mile hurdler round.
She gave us all such a memorable day together with her good win within the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle and is a really constant performer — she has received 14 of her 18 begins, solely ending out of the primary two placings when she fell at Leopardstown, within the 2025 Irish Champion Hurdle.
Lossiemouth has by no means been out of the primary two when she has stood up and he or she has received a unprecedented 10 Grade Ones.
She is solely a marvellous mare who could have the measure of those geldings and bar she underperforms for some unexpected cause, she’s going to win this in the present day to crown her season for Paul Townend and champion trainer-elect, Willie Mullins.
Lossiemouth is again to cement her standing as the very best two-mile hurdler round
And from hurdling royalty we glance to stars of the long run within the different Grade One on in the present day’s card, the Alanna Properties Champion Novice Hurdle (6.0) over two and a half miles.
We’ll flip once more to the Mullins yard for the reply, as he holds all of the aces right here. It’s very tough to look previous King Rasko Gray, our good friend from Cheltenham, provided that he ought to respect these drier floor situations and contemplating the authoritative method of his win within the Turners.
The third horse that day, Zeus Energy, subsequently received a Grade One at Aintree so the shape appears to be like robust. King Rasko Gray is the one selection for me right here.
The QuinnBet Novice Handicap Chase, once more over two and a half miles, is at 5.25. I just like the probabilities of JP McManus’s second string, Raglan Highway, for Henry de Bromhead, who has already had one winner right here this week.
He received over this distance in Down Royal final outing and has been raised 5 kilos for that effort, however he met vital hassle in operating that day and I believed he did nicely to win within the circumstances.
Jockey Harry Cobden goes to have a very large 12 months in these colors subsequent 12 months when he takes over as No1 rider in McManus’s inexperienced and gold hoops, and it would simply be a pleasant strategy to finish this season with a victory right here.
The Glencarraig Girl Mares’ Chase at 4.50 is a Grade Two over two and a half miles and I simply must go together with Dinoblue right here. She is a mare that I’ve by no means fairly been capable of give the credit score to, however she deserves it now.
She is a 12-time winner who has back-to-back victories within the Mrs Paddy Energy Mares’ Chases on the Cheltenham Competition and he or she was just about seamless there final outing when beating Solely By Night time in what seemed a cushty show.
JANE’S BEST BETS
NAP OF THE DAY
Lossiemouth
6.40 Boodles Champion Hurdle
EACH WAY
Raglan Highway
5.25 QuinnBet Novice Handicap Chase
Dinoblue is a nine-year-old now and has been across the block however she is nothing if not constant and I feel she will convey up a sequence of 4 wins in a row in the present day.
The Hunters Chase is at 4.15 and I’m going to oppose doubtless favorite Its On The Line, who’s the defending champion. In actual fact, Its On The Line has been ruler of all he surveys right here, profitable this race for every of the final 4 years.
My choose for this nevertheless is Wonderwall, who, whereas somewhat bit disappointing at Cheltenham again in March, was a winner at Dromahane final time and naturally received on the Cheltenham Competition again in 2025.
Skilled by Sam Curling, he’s a horse that can in all probability respect the drier floor situations and I’m keen to forgive his lacklustre effort at Cheltenham as a result of earlier than that, his type was very robust.
So I’m going with Wonderwall for all of the Oasis followers on the market – optimistically punters shall be singing that earlier than launching right into a verse or two of Raglan Highway in a while!
The opposite race I’m going to supply a variety for is the Stables Restaurant Naas Bumper, at 7.40 as I’m an enormous fan of Martin Brassil’s Cityofblindinlites.
He did so much fallacious and confirmed his inexperience on his solely begin at Leopardstown, however in fact the winner of that race, The Mourne Rambler, went on to win the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham earlier than ending second right here earlier within the week in a Grade One.
On that Leopardstown type, Cityofblindinlites holds Heldam, who reopposes right here in the present day, and I’m hoping he could have discovered a bit from that have. If he races extra professionally, Cityofblindinlites shall be onerous to beat within the Bumper.
