This year’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival is missing some big names, with Sir Gino and former winner State Man both sidelined by injury, and Constitution Hill now pursuing a career on the Flat. That leaves two top Irish mares - Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead - heading the field, continuing a recent trend of success for mares in this race. Lossiemouth, unbeaten at Cheltenham and winner of the last two Mares’ Hurdles, finally gets her chance in the Champion Hurdle. She narrowly beat