WILLIE MULLINS and Nicky Henderson look all set to slug it out in a proper Christmas cracker – with Lossiemouth due to take on Consitution Hill at Kempton on Boxing Day.
In what could be an early Champion Hurdle decider, the former king will have to prove he still has it against the young pretender in a mouthwatering head-to-head.
Legendary owner Rich Ricci confirmed his current Champion Hurdle favourite is set to line up in the Christmas Hurdle.
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Constitution Hill, who swept all before him before being struck down before Cheltenham Festival, is due to make his seasonal return.
Huge question marks remain over just how good Henderson’s stable star will still be.
And he couldn’t have a more difficult opponent in wondermare Lossiemouth, who made Teahupoo look average when bolting up in the Hatton’s Grace.
Speaking to Matt Chapman on At The Races’ Unbridled podcast, Ricci said Lossiemouth would almost certainly miss Leopardstown, where State Man will go for gold.
Ricci described it as paying the ‘Willie tax’ – in reference to the trainer having certain races reserved for certain horses.
He said: “State Man loves Leopardstown, it’s his course, he’s undefeated there and our only defeat was at Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival.
“We might go to Leopardstown for the Dublin Racing Festival, last year we went to the International (at Cheltenham), but she would carry a bigger penalty this year.
“I would say we’re probably leaning towards that (Christmas Hurdle), but we can lean the other way as well.
“There’s the option of the race on New Year’s Day which Annie Power won at Cheltenham.
“She will run somewhere at Christmas, but I think at the moment he’s talking about the Christmas Hurdle.
“I think his view is you’re the Champion Hurdle favourite and you’re supposed to run in the Christmas Hurdle, but we’ll see what happens. We’ll see if she’s all right to get there, who knows.
“She will definitely have an entry and we will take it from there.”
Coral have Lossiemouth 4-6 to beat Constitution Hill in a match bet – and give him his first ever defeat.
While Hendo’s runner is 11-10 to get the better of the awesome grey.
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