Lossiemouth being primed for next season says Willie Mullins
Willie Mullins has set his sights on the next season with Lossiemouth, after deciding to withdraw his star mare from the Punchestown Festival.
Lossiemouth, who has won 11 of her 14 starts, successfully defended her title in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month and followed it up with a win in the Aintree Hurdle in early April.
Despite expectations that she would compete against the geldings in the Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday, connections decided against it. She was also expected to aim for consecutive wins in Saturday's SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle, but was not confirmed on Tuesday.
Explaining her absence, Mullins said: 'She misses Punchestown but she will be back next season. I don't think we'll be going to France with her.
'It's disappointing to miss the last day of the season but she'll be fine in a week or two and we'll prepare her for next season.'
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