Lossiemouth to Punchestown means blockbuster clash is on at Newcastle

Willie Mullins has explained his decision to saddle Lossiemouth rather than Anzadam in Saturday’s Unibet Morgiana Hurdle, with the latter instead set for a blockbuster clash with Constitution Hill and The New Lion at Newcastle next weekend.

The master of Closutton has unsurprisingly dominated the Punchestown Grade One in recent years, saddling 13 previous winners, including 12 of the last 14.

Mullins had a plethora of entries for this year’s renewal and with dual winner State Man ruled out for the season last week, the unbeaten Anzadam – like State Man owned by Joe and Marie Donnelly – moved to the head of ante-post lists for the Morgiana.

However, the five-year-old did not appear among the declarations on Thursday morning and it is instead star mare Lossiemouth who will go to post as a red-hot favourite in the hands of Paul Townend, with Grade One-winning novice Irancy the stable’s apparent second string.

Mullins told Sporting Life: “I think starting her out over this trip will answer a few questions for further into the season including whether it can be a stepping stone to the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

“We just need to know about her in two-mile Grade Ones. On form she should win, I think she’ll cope fine with the test but we’ll learn plenty about her at Punchestown.

“Irancy is my other runner and he’s a nice young hurdler, a Grade One course and distance winner in the spring, but he might find things difficult giving 7lb to Lossiemouth.

“Anzadam will now be pointed at the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle next weekend.”

Lossiemouth is the 4-11 favourite for the Morgiana with Paddy Power, who make Anzadam a 3-1 shot for what promises to be an epic Fighting Fifth. Dan Skelton’s The New Lion is the Irish firm’s 11-8 market leader, with the Nicky Henderson-trained Constitution Hill a 7-4 shot.

Gordon Elliott, who is the only other trainer in the last 14 years to win the Morgiana having struck gold with Abacadabras in 2020 and Brighterdaysahead 12 months ago, is on Saturday represented by Ndaawi. He won the Galway Hurdle during the summer and was last seen finishing sixth in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

The small but select field is completed by David Harry Kelly’s recent course winner Glen Kiln, who carries the colours of the Bowe family made famous by hugely popular three-time Morgiana hero Limestone Lad and the superstar mare Solerina.