Jockey Stan Sheppard Gets The Call To Ride LOSSIEMOUTH At The Cheltenham Festival

Hereford-based jockey Stan Sheppard has been booked to ride LOSSIEMOUTH at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival – but not ‘THAT’ Lossiemouth.

There are in fact two horses by the same name (in case you didn’t know). 

You can also see Andy Newton’s best Cheltenham bets and hot stats for ALL the DAY ONE Festival races.

Stan Sheppard Gets Leg-Up On The ‘Other’ Lossiemouth In The Coral Cup

Okay, hands up we’ve tricked you (or not) here into thinking that jockey Stan Sheppard might be the new rider for leading Cheltenham Festival hope LOSSIEMOUTH – who is the big fancy for the Mares’ Hurdle on day one with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.

However, we are not totally lying as Sheppard is STILL riding Lossiemouth at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival – it’s just there is another horse in training with the same name.

So, fans of Paul Townend, who normally rides the Rich Ricci-owned Lossiemouth (I hope you’re keeping up), you can relax.

Sheppard’s grandad Roger Guilding rode over 135 winners as an amateur, while his dad Matthew is a trainer.

While his biggest win in the saddle to date came when winning the 2021 Welsh Grand National on Iwilldoit.

He’ll be looking to top that with a Cheltenham Festival win this Wednesday.

Polly Gundry Trains The ‘Other’ Lossiemouth

The other Lossiemouth is trained by former jockey Polly Gundry in Devon – which is around 360 miles away from Closutton where the mare Lossiemouth is housed with Willie Mullins in Ireland.

He goes in the 2:40 at Cheltenham on Wednesday – the Coral Cup – which is run over 2m5f and been won by the Dan Skelton-trained Langer Dan for the last two seasons.

The race has also seen six of the last nine renewals being won by trainers Skelton, Elliott or Henderson.

So, in theory we could get two horses called LOSSIEMOUTH winning at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival in the opening two days of the meeting.

Stan Sheppard has ridden Lossiemouth in five on his 14 career starts – including winning a Grade Two Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown in 2021.

Owned by Lady Cobham, this 10 year-old might share a name with one of the best hurdles around at the moment – but there is still a lot of differences.

There Are Four Years Between The Two Lossiemouth Horses

Lossiemouth (who runs in the Coral Cup) is aged 10 and is four years older than the star Willie Mullins grey mare.

Which also brings us onto the sex – one is a gelding (male) and the other, as mentioned, a mare (female).

Polly Gundry’s Lossiemouth is a bay, whereas the Mullins Lossiemouth is a grey.

There Is 26lbs Between The Two Lossiemouths On Ratings

There is also a massive 26lbs between the two based on the official ratings, with Polly Gundry’s Lossiemouth rated 134 and the last year’s Mares’ Hurdle winner at the Cheltenham Festival Lossiemouth currently rated 160.

Meaning if the two ever raced against each other – they won’t – but let’s say they did.

The younger Lossie (Mullins) would have to carry 26lbs in extra weight to try and make it a fair contest – but probably still win.

While, finally, the grey has won nine of her 12 races to date – but fell last time out in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.

With the 10 year-old Lossiemouth, who goes in the Coral Cup, winning five of his 14 starts and is around 50/1 to win the race.

Why Are There Two Horses Called Lossiemouth?

The Willie Mullins-trained Lossiemouth was born and bred in France, which is where she got her name.

She raced once there for trainer Yannick Fouin (won by 10 lengths) , before being bought by Rich Ricci and sent to Willie Mullins. She was born in March 2019.

Whereas the older Lossiemouth was born in April 2015 – and so, I guess, he can claim he’s got first dibs on the name.

But with the older Lossiemouth being gelded before he’d even set foot on the racecourse – there is no chance of the two namesakes ‘getting it on’ in the hope of an Lossiemouth offspring.

I wonder how many children’s parents have the same name?

Oh, in case you were wondering – Lossiemouth is a town in Moray, Scotland, which is what both horses are named after.

Lossiemouth Career In Numbers (Polly Gundry)

Lossiemouth Career In Numbers (Willie Mullins)

The Mullins Lossiemouth (the mare) Is Big Favourite To Win The Mares’ Hurdle at The Cheltenham Festival

Back to the grey mare Lossiemouth (the higher rated) and after running a fine second to Constitution Hill in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, she was next seen falling in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the DRF.

The good news is that she’s none the worse for that tumble and even though the Champion Hurdle had been the plan – connections are opting for the easier Mares’ Hurdle, which is also run over a longer trip.

Maybe after that fall Mullins and co wanted to ease Lossiemouth back in a race she’d have a better chance of winning – plus the Champion Hurdle would be run at a lot quicker pace, which would put more stress on fast jumping.

Meaning she’s sidestepped a clash with Constitution Hill and fellow star mare Brighterdaysahead.

She’s still only aged 6 though, so the Champion Hurdle could still be a plan next season – but in the meantime she’s got to try and win the Mares’ Hurdle for a second time and also try and keep her unbeaten Cheltenham record intact (3-from-3).

Lossiemouth is also being billed as one of four day one Cheltenham bankers – should they all win then bookies are fearing a £50m mega payout.

Good luck to both Lossiemouths! 🤞