The Champion Hurdle picture is becoming clearer by the day, and the latest comments from Patrick Mullins appear to indicate that Paul Townend will keep faith with the reigning champion.
Mullins stated: State Man is the Champion Hurdler, Paul has chosen him, he's the one we think Lossiemouth has to get past."
The comments have led to immediate movement on the exchange, with the mare now available at 12/1.
Despite Willie Mullins indicating that the Champion Hurdle has been the two-year plan with Lossiemouth, it now appears that all roads lead to a defence of her Mares' Hurdle title.
She is currently a shade of odds-against for the race on the opening day of the Festival, taking over at the top of the market from stablemate Jade De Grugy.
Despite beating Teahupoo on her seasonal reappearance in the G1 Hatton's Grace, it has been a challenging season for the former Triumph Hurdle winner.
Since that win, she finished second behind Constitution Hill in the G1 Christmas Hurdle, and was a faller in the G1 Irish Champion Hurdle,
Cheltenham clerk of the course Jon Pullin has also announced that selective watering at the track could begin as early as Thursday.
The track has dried out following warm spring skies, with the latest going report indicating that the ground is soft, soft in places.
Pullin admitted that the ground is drying out, and there is an unknown when it comes to the amount of rain that is expected to fall on Friday.
However, all available forecasts expect little to no rainfall during Festival week.
Only one Festival since 2018 has started on drier ground than soft, and William Hill has priced up the Supreme being run on good to soft ground at 1/6.
