"Kempton's going to be a dilemma" - Lossiemouth vs Sir Gino or Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle?

Two important Grade One races took place over hurdles this weekend. The first was the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, which again went the way of Nicky Henderson, as Sir Gino romped to victory at Newcastle.

After Constitution Hill's latest setback, Sir Gino was rerouted from novice chasing to take in Saturday's feature. Willie Mullins' raider, Mystical Power was backed into favouritism before the off, but it was Sir Gino who produced a star-studded display, thrashing his rivals to claim a second Grade One win over hurdles.

"The first reaction is obviously relief," Henderson told the press at Newcastle. "We haven't pretended that we didn't believe he's very good; we do seriously think he's a bit special. 

"He's getting into that category where nothing but a really dominant display is going to satisfy everybody. He did exactly that and it's where the relief is; he's as good as we thought. Things have been testing, but you can now look back at that Newbury gallop and see that Constitution Hill badly needed it."

Sir Gino's next port of call depends on how well Constitution Hill recovers from injury. Henderson would be reluctant to run his stable stars against one-another, but there is a slim chance that we could see both line-up in the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day.

Henderson continued, "It presents the conundrum about where we go next. The idea was to go chasing. If you see a better horse over a fence I'd be amazed as he's absolutely breathtaking."

"We don't have to decide here and now, but it does look like he's staying in that hurdle game."

"Kempton's going to be a dilemma. You might say we're best staying over hurdles and leaving chasing until next season, but he's a very good jumper, no matter what you put in front of him."

Sunday saw Lossiemouth throw her hat into the Champion Hurdle ring, with victory in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle. Willie Mullins' mare was popular in the market beforehand, and showed her speed late on to down two-time defencing champion Teahupoo and collect a sixth career Grade One.

"Once it came down to a speed race I had no doubt we were going to win." Mullins said. 

"She has gears, she is bred for speed and that always comes in handy when they are going steady. I couldn't believe they went so slow."

Many had then expected Lossiemouth to head to the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival, where she would meet stablemate and reigning Champion Hurdler, State Man for the first time. However, Mullins said after the race that Lossiemouth's next outing would likely be on English soil.

"She might go to the International Hurdle or to Kempton for the Christmas Hurdle." Mullins continued.

"The International is a Grade 2 so I want to look at the conditions – that might not suit us. It may be that Kempton is the one to go for with her and let Anzadam go to Cheltenham. We'll see."

It now seems inevitable that Lossiemouth will meet at least one of her Champion Hurdle rivals before going for her third victory at the Cheltenham Festival. Personally, I think we'll see Lossiemouth lock horns with Sir Gino in the Christmas Hurdle, with Henderson likely to wait until the International Hurdle for Constitution Hill, as it would be an easier assignment and he won't carry a penalty.