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Classy mare Lossiemouth provided Mullins and Townend with an opening day treble at the Cheltenham Festival when running out a ready winner of the Close Brothers’ Mares’ Hurdle.

Fresh off the back of their Champion Hurdle success, Willie Mullins and Paul Townend were once again in the Cheltenham winners' enclosure courtesy of a smooth performance from star mare Lossiemouth.

Although slightly disappointing she wasn't lining up forty minutes earlier to take on stablemate State Man in the Champion Hurdle, there's no doubting the class Rich Ricci's mare possesses.

An impressive winner of last year's Triumph Hurdle, the five-year-old mare was sent off 8/13 to take the step up to two and a half miles for the first time in her stride. Once again, for the third time this afternoon, jockey Paul Townend oozed confidence approaching the final flight who looked a cut above her rivals when winning the Grade 2 International Hurdle on Trials Day in January. 

The pair cruised between rivals Telmesomethinggirl and Love Envoi on the run to the last and with absolute ease, Lossiemouth soon put distance between herself and her rivals, going on to an effortless three-length success.

Mullins, who is now just three away from a century of Cheltenham Festival winners, said of the star mare: "She was great – she's a Champion Hurdle mare, we all think. Once again, Paul was very cool on her and she can improve another year on, when she's a bit older. Running like that, in that ground, she's got everything.

"We made the right decision (not to go for the Champion Hurdle this year). She didn't get a grueller like if she'd been in the Champion Hurdle, she's only five and getting a grueller in the Champion Hurdle is not what you want."