WHEN legendary 20-time champion jockey declares a horse a ‘good thing’ you have to sit up and take notice.
Especially when he adds they will be ‘the biggest steering job of this year’s Cheltenham Festival’.
But that is how certain he is that Lossiemouth wins the Mares’ Hurdle on day one – a little over a week away.
Willie Mullins’ monster mare, owned by multi-millionaire banker Rich Ricci, is 1-2 to claim the £67,524 first-place prize.
Beaten just once in her career, Lossiemouth won last year’s Triumph Hurdle and looked ridiculously good when last seen at Cheltenham on Trials Day in January.
Jockey Paul Townend didn’t move a muscle as she sauntered into the lead after the last and zoomed up the famous hill.
She didn’t even look to hit top gear and previous Festival-winning mare Love Envoi was left flailing some nine-and-half lengths behind.
With Constitution Hill touch and go to even make it to Cheltenham, Lossiemouth is going in as many people’s banker.
And she could form part of a formidable treble on day one including Ballyburn in the Supreme and State Man in the Champion Hurdle that could have bookies running for cover.
But of Lossiemouth’s chances, AP told William Hill’s Inside Track podcast: “Lossiemouth is a good thing in the Mares’ Hurdle.
“A lot of people are saying that she should now run in the Champion Hurdle but if there’s a race put on for mares then why wouldn’t Willie Mullins go and win it?
“At that age they are better off having another year under their belts and she’s got a few other Mullins horses to beat.
“But she is probably the biggest steering job at the Festival this year.
“In terms of simply steering one around, she looks to be the easiest to steer round at the entire Cheltenham Festival.”
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