Gala Marceau turns tables on stablemate in Juvenile Hurdle

Gala Marceau caused a turn up in the Donohue Marquees Spring Juvenile Hurdle when turning the tables on her much-vaunted stablemate Lossiemouth at Leopardstown.

Owned by Kenny Alexander of Honeysuckle fame, Gala Marceau finished seven lengths behind Lossiemouth at Christmas and could be backed at 9-2 while Lossiemouth was sent off the red-hot 1-3 favourite.

However, the Willie Mullins-trained pair, although dominating the finish, did not cross the line in the order expected.

Lossiemouth's race was lost at the third-last when another stablemate, the rank outsider Jourdefete, owned like Lossiemouth by Rich Ricci, made a mistake leaving Lossiemouth nowhere to go.

Paul Townend had to take his medicine on the market leader, briefly dropping back to last before circling the field on the bend.

It was to Lossiemouth's credit that she still had a chance heading to the last, but the bird had already flown.

Gala Marceau (9-2) reverses form with stablemate and hot favourite Lossiemouth to land the Donohue Marquees Spring Juvenile Hurdle for trainer Willie Mullins and nephew Danny. The runner-up suffered plenty of trouble in running. #DublinRacingFestival pic.twitter.com/kcKDLIgzGD

Gala Marceau and Danny Mullins were spring-heeled at it and maintained a two and a half length advantage at the finish. Another Mullins runner, Tekao, was third.

Lossiemouth is now 9-4 from 11-8 for the Triumph while the winner is 4-1 from 10s.

"Paul got into a lot of trouble, but the winner is a good filly and she's improving all the time," said Mullins.

"Paul thinks he was a little unlucky.

"That (same ownership) was the disappointing part about it. Paul said to me he got done three times.

"I just hope it doesn't leave its mark that she had such a hard run from the