Punchestown’s loss has been Fairyhouse’s gain
Punchestown’s loss has been Fairyhouse’s gain, as the clash no one expected is happening.
Last season’s Stayers Hurdle winner, Teahupoo, will go head-to-head with superstar mare Lossiemouth.
I speak for the horse racing world when I say I can not wait for this race. Which camp are you in?
To help you decide, here is my runner-by-runner betting guide for the 2024 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle and the best online horse racing bookmakers to place your winning Hatton’s Grace Hurdle bet.
Hatton’s Grace runner by runner betting guide
Now it’s time to take an in-depth look into runners of the Hatton’s Grace, and the best odds provided by our best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.
3 Teahupoo
- Age: 7
- Weight: 11st 10lb
- Form: 4/111-
- Rating: 164
- Jockey: Jack Kennedy
- Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- Odds: 4/5
The dual winner Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, Teahupoo, will aim to replicate Limestone Lad, Solerina, and Apple’s Jade in becoming a three-time winner of this prestigious Grade 1.
Gordon Elliott has made no secret of the fact that Teahupoo is best when fresh and has proven in the past that he can put up massive performances over course and distance.
Notably when beating Klassical Dream and two-time Champion Hurdler Honeysuckle in 2022 running and backed that up again the following year when outstaying the then Ballymore winner, Impaire Est Passe.
Since then, Teahupoo has claimed the Grade 1 Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and the Grade 1 Stayers Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.
But, he is possibly facing his biggest test to date as he lines up against superstar mare Lossiemouth.
With only four runners, this would not want to be run slowly and turn into a sprint as that would play into the hands of Lossiemouth. But given that the remaining two runners hail from the Gordon Elliott stable, you would presume that one will make the running for Teahupoo.
If this were over three miles, then it would be a less difficult decision to side with Teahupoo, but as this is over two miles and four furlongs, he may have to hand over his crown today to Lossiemouth, who will receive seven pounds from all her rivals.
There won’t be much in it, but he may get left flat-footed by the faster mare.
Defending champions Multiple Grade 1 winner Has never lost on his first start of the season
Needs this to be a stamina test Has to concede seven pounds to a Grade 1 winning mare
Star rating: 
Bet on Teahupoo for the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle here
4 Lossiemouth
- Age: 5
- Weight: 11st 3lb
- Form: 1/111
- Rating: 156
- Jockey: Paul Townend
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Odds: 11/10
Lossiemouth was set to make her seasonal return at Punchestown last weekend in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle, but a stone bruise put her return on hold for just over a week.
But without even running last week, Lossiemouth has shortened into favouritism for the 2025 Champion Hurdle, and she will be putting her credentials to the test today against a proper Grade 1 gelding.
In nine runs, Lossiemouth has only tasted defeat once in her life, and at that, she should have won the race.
After a busy campaign as a juvenile hurdler, her trainer, Willie Mullins, took his time with her last season and made her return in the Unibet Hurdle on trials day at Cheltenham in January.
There were questions about whether she would be up to the Grade 1 level out of the juvenile hurdle division, but she put those worries to bed with an impressive nine-length win.
She went on to win the Grade 1 Mares Hurdle on heavy ground, squashing any worries that she would not stay two miles four further.
A demolition job followed at the Punchestown Festival, leaving everyone excited about what she may be capable of doing this season.
Well, we are about to find out.
There will be no ground or trip worries with Lossiemouth, and she holds the key with her sex allowance.
She is an uncomplicated mare who can sometimes be keen, but given that Teahupoo will not want this run at a slow pace, you can be sure that one of Gordon Elliott’s runners will ensure this is a true test.
Even if it is a truly run race, I find it hard not to see Lossiemouth coming out on top.
She is a superstar mare who will only improve even more this season, and I am excited to see what she can do this season.
She gets seven pounds off her rivals Multiple Grade 1 winner Stays this trip but processes two-mile speed
A slow run race may get her lit up
Star rating:
Bet on Lossiemouth for the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle here
1 Beacon Edge
- Age: 10
- Weight: 11st 10lb
- Form: -12451
- Rating: 144
- Jockey:
- Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- Odds: 28/1
Beacon Edge, a former Grade 1 winning chaser, showed that there is still a lot of life left in his latter years as he took full advantage of a weak Grade 2 at Wetherby last time out.
A winner last time out
Not up to this level anymore
Star rating:
Bet on Beacon Edge for the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle here
2 Maxxum
- Age: 7
- Weight: 11st 10lb
- Form: 6F1-P8
- Rating: 150
- Jockey:
- Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- Odds: 28/1
Maxxum is likely to be the pace in the race, and he will be able to take them into the latter stages.
He looked like he was finding enough to win at Fairyhouse when falling two over course and distance in April.
A reproduction of that run would see him a clear third.
Still, they may not want to get anywhere near the front two, with handicap targets likely to follow for the rest of the season, notably the Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle he won last season.
He is one to keep an eye on going forward, but he should not be troubling Teahupoo or Lossiemouth here
Likely to get an easy lead
Not up to this level
Star rating:
Bet on Maxxum for the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle here
Hatton’s Grace Hurdle verdict
This will be a cracking race, with little between the top two, but I have to side with the mare Lossiemouth.
She is receiving the seven-pound mare’s allowance, which is a massive advantage for a proper Grade 1 mare.
With no ground or trip worries coming into today’s race for Lossiemouth, Teahupoo will find it hard to give away the weight to the speedier mare over a trip that is short of his best.
About the author
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
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