LAURINA IS JUST CHAMPION
LAURINA put in a faultless performance in yesterday’s Quevega Hurdle at Punchestown as she tuned up for the Champion Hurdle.
“Job done,” said Willie Mullins, the delighted winning trainer.
“She’s had a good blow, as she needed the race, she moved up nicely and did everything that was asked.”
Laurina, now unbeaten in her six races over hurdles since joining Mullins from France, remains the 7-2 third favourite for the hurdling crown behind 7-4 jolly Buveur D’Air.
Mullins’ four Champion Hurdle winners were all ridden by Ruby Walsh who partnered Laurina yesterday and will again be in the saddle at Cheltenham next month.
Walsh said: “They went a good gallop and I thought she did it really well.
“I’m in the same position as everyone else – I don’t know how good she is. She’s done everything asked of her and she deserves a crack at it but Apple’s Jade and Buveur D’Air are helluva good racehorses.”
Mullins, the most successful trainer at the Cheltenham Festival with 61 winners, is aiming to plug the one glaring gap in his Festival CV – a first victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
“It would be nice to win a Gold Cup and we’ve as good a chance as any,” said Mullins, who has saddled a staggering six seconds in the chasing crown from 22 runners. He spoke as he supervised the work for his Cheltenham runners at his Co Carlow yard.
“I expect to have four runners – Kemboy, Al Boum Photo, Bellshill, and Invitation Only – and you can make cases for them all. Bellshill has lots of stamina and jumps particularly well. That’s a huge plus for him.
“Kemboy skipped over those fences in Leopardstown (the impressive winner of the Savills Chase at the Christmas fixture) and hopefully he’ll be able to do the same in Cheltenham.
“It was a huge performance. He must have a very good chance.
“I think the extra trip will be good for him as well. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Al Boum Photo yet. Invitation Only will probably have to step up a bit.
“That’s the way I see them. But I’ve not made any jockey arrangements.
“We’ll see and do what we normally do and leave it to the last minute.”
Mullins hinted that David Mullins would keep the ride on Kemboy, the 8-1 third favourite behind 9-2 market leader Clan Des Obeaux, and the best chance of his runners, according to the betting. “David (Mullins) gave Kemboy a brave ride at Leopardstown,” said Mullins, whose late father Paddy made history by winning the Gold Cup (1986) and Champion Hurdle (1984) with Dawn Run. “And they are a good combination.”
The popular Un De Sceaux, who only has two gears, walking or flat out, attempts to make it a second victory in the Ryanair Chase.
“This year has not been Un De Sceaux’s year in terms of ground,” said Mullins. “Even when he ran at Sandown, (second to Altior) they had a lot of rain just before and the ground was quite loose on top but it was still good ground underneath.
“I was glad that he came back from that race sound.
“He needs heavy ground even more so as he gets older but the enthusiasm is still there and he is in particularly good form at the moment – probably in the best shape I’ve seen him in the last couple of weeks.”