BBC 5 Live Breakfast

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Jockey Nico de Boinville, riding Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle today, speaking this morning to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast: "I sleep very well and then we’re up early and I’ve just got onto my first lot now."

On his preparations: "I get up, brush my teeth. I just get out, get riding out and get moving forward, I think that’s all you can do."

On the course: "I went in yesterday and it seems okay. I am happy."

On whether the course suits Constitution Hill: "It doesn’t matter, I think he’s very versatile. I thought the ground was quick enough yesterday. There might be some good times coming everyone’s way."

On the Cheltenham Festival: "This is our flagship week for national hunt racing, so many of our horses are primed for this week, so you want it all to go well.

"It’s very good at the festival. You definitely get a load of energy off all the people. It’s great that the sport is thriving."

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One of the most eagerly-awaited races of the week – can Constitution Hill regain the title he won in 2023?

Last year was a challenging one for the Nicky Henderson-trained star but he came back in style with victory at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Another win at Cheltenham followed and an impressive gallop at Kempton late last month cemented his position at the top of the market.

Last year’s winner State Man goes again, but he was well beaten by Constitution Hill in 2023, and the leading Irish challenger seems to be Brighterdaysahead, a very impressive winner at Leopardstown in December.

Vanessa Ryle
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I'm sceptical over the line of Lossiemouth not being good enough at home, you can't win a Mares' Hurdle like that at Cheltenham. I'm not buying it.

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Lossiemouth owner Rich Ricci speaking to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: "I haven't watched it yet. I always get emotional, I'm a crier by nature. It's great to get a winner here, it's always great to have a winner here. To get the response from the crowd is emotional.

On running Lossiemouth here: "I answer it simply, we campaigned her as a champion hurdle horse. She lost at Christmas, a decent race but not great. We took her to Dublin versus State Man but she had a horrible fall. It was the logical choice to come here. It's racing, it is what it is. We have a winner and that's the main thing for us. It was an ante-post for us, it wasn't to be but let's see what happens next year."

On the season: "It's been a bad year this year, we're re-stocking. To sneak a win like this at Cheltenham is fantastic."

Jockey James Bowen will miss the Cheltenham Festival after losing an appeal against a seven-day suspension handed to him by the whip review committee.

Bowen, 23, rode Zestful Hope to victory at Hereford on Sunday, 23 February but was found guilty of excessive use of the whip approaching the home bend.

Bowen appealed against the ban but his case was dismissed by an independent disciplinary panel.

The ban starts from today and will include the entirety of Cheltenham.

Bowen has won 73 races so far in this jump season, putting him sixth in the current championship standings for individual jockeys, with brother Sean leading. The season runs until April.

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Jump jockey champion Harry Cobden said he hopes to help "inspire" the next generation ahead of this week's Cheltenham Festival.

Cobden became only the eighth rider to win the championship since the 1980-81 season when he clinched the title on the eve of the final meeting last April.

The 26-year-old was speaking on a visit to his former primary school in Yeovil.

"When you go racing now it's typically an older generation, so if you can come here and inspire the next generation to possibly go racing then it's only a good thing," Cobden told BBC Points West.

The 26-year-old is fourth in the current jump jockey championship standings, with 89 wins. Last year's runner-up Sean Bowen leads the way on 150.

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Winning trainer Willie Mullins on ITV Racing: "She was very good. I was disappointed with the fact she didn't run in the Champion Hurdle, but her work with State Man last week wasn’t Champion Hurdle work so the obvious thing was to come back.

"It's disappointing for everyone but you look at where you can get winners. Rich (owner Rich Ricci) hasn’t got a big team of runners so we have done the right thing for Rich.

"Gaelic Warrior isn’t doing anything and that would have be another chance of winning but he isn’t going to race here."

Tom Scudamore
Jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Lossiemouth was always in control. Hate the game, not the player. It's the situation they've been put in. I don't believe there is a place for a Championship Mares Hurdle final here at Cheltenham.

On Friday, Paul Townend could be in the golden lights of the most Gold Cup wins. He doesn't get all of the credit he deserves, but he has all the success he deserves.

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

In a different league. She took a really nasty fall list time out. She bounced back, the "Oles Oles" are starting. On the back of that, she would've been an interesting contender in a Champion Hurdle.

She was way too good. It was just down to how far really. She's certainly not in top gear. I'd imagine Paul Townend wasn't out of third or fourth gear there.

1 Lossiemouth (P Townend) 4-6 Fav

2 Jade De Grugy (D E Mullins) 5-1

3 Take No Chances (Harry Skelton) 22-1

10 ran

Imperious.

A well-timed run by the favourite, the grey mare was well held by jockey Paul Townend as Jade De Grugy took a sizable early lead.

Ultimately, when Townend applied the afterburners, Lossiemouth was way too good for the rest and won by several lengths.

Should she have run in the Champion Hurdle? Team Lossiemouth will be happy enough to ponder those questions from the winners' enclosure.

Lossiemouth effortlessly hits the front, taking the last with ease...

Up to the last.

Lossiemouth makes a move!

They jump the third last, Jade De Grugy still going well.

We have a faller, Gala Marceau has gone.

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Jade De Grugy is extending her lead, up to three lengths now.

The rest of the field sat quietly behind, waiting to strike perhaps.

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Jade De Grugy is in a beautiful rhythm. Lossiemouth is expending energy, she's going to need to do that and be good to win.

Jade De Grugy leads, Lossiemouth second, Jetara third.

Five hurdles remain.

Lossiemouth has moved into second, a couple of lengths behind early leader Jade De Grugy.

Seven hurdles left to jump.

Tom Scudamore
Jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Lossiemouth was a bit sluggish at Kempton, it took her a bit of time to warm up and she had a nasty fall at Leopardstown.

Jade De Grugy was well ahead of the field as they started there, but it was a legal start.

An early lead for the Danny Mullins ride.