Willie Mullins’s Champion Hurdle hope Laurina set for Punchestown date in Quevega Mares Hurdle
Laurina will take on six rivals in the Listed race including stablemates Stormy Ireland and Good Thyne Tara
LAURINA will step up her Festival preparations in the Quevega Mares Hurdle tomorrow.
The Listed race at Punchestown will be used as a warm-up to the Champion Hurdle, now only three weeks away.
Last March, she bounded to an impressive success in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Festival, but has only had one race this season in a muddled campaign.
She'll face six rivals at Punchestown, with arguably her biggest threats coming from within the Mullins stable.
On ratings Good Thyne Tara is the number one danger, but unexposed stablemate Stormy Ireland should not be discounted.
Gordon Elliot has one runner in Lackaneen Leader with Joseph O'Brien running Slowmotion.
Full Field in Listed Quevega Mares Hurdle
Laurina
Good Thyne Tara
Lackaneen Leader
Stormy Ireland
Alletrix
Mary Frances
Slowmotion
Mullins' son and assistant Patrick, said: "We're looking forward to running her.
"It looks a nice opportunity for her. She's been 100 per cent since Sandown, no problems with her. We're very happy with her.
"Cheltenham is the aim - so at the moment we're trying to get her to the Champion Hurdle."