Laurina star quality helps Mullins eat into Elliott lead
Superb mare saunters to first Grade One success Irish National may decide trainers’ title
Laurina, arguably the easiest winner of the Cheltenham Festival last month, produced further evidence of her supremacy among the mares’ ranks when landing her first Grade One success, in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final at Fairyhouse yesterday.
While the winning margin of 8½ lengths may not have matched her 18-length Cheltenham stroll, jockey Paul Townend was able to sit motionless for much of the contest as she was in a different class to her rivals.
The only real moment of concern came as stablemate Redhot-filly-peppers fell when leading and Laurina needed to be nimble on her feet to navigate the trouble. She eventually eased past another stablemate, Salsaretta, and was never put under any pressure to beat the Gordon Elliott-trained Lackaneen Leader. Alletrix finished third.
Her trainer, Willie Mullins, also landed the Grade One Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase when Al Boum Photo stayed on strongly to beat Elliott’s Shattered Love by a length.
The race epitomised this season’s race to be champion trainer in Ireland as the two protagonists, Mullins and Elliott, were responsible for all nine runners.
At the start of the weekend, Elliott had a lead of €500,000, but Mullins, who clung on to his crown with a late surge last year, was busy mounting a similar challenge, and his Grade One double netted him €118,000. However, Elliott did land the Grade Two Underwriting Exchange Novice Hurdle with Pallasator, which was worth €29,500.
Today’s Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse is also dominated by the pair. Elliott has 13 runners while Mullins sends off four, and with a pot of €500,000 to be won, the contest is likely to prove pivotal in deciding the destination of the title.
The weather has taken a toll on domestic race meetings today. Redcar and Huntingdon were lost to waterlogging while there are inspections this morning at Chepstow, Fakenham and Plumpton.
Tomorrow’s jumping card at Wincanton has already been abandoned and the Flat fixture at Pontefract is under threat with an inspection having been called for 9am this morning. Prospects of racing taking place are not thought to be bright.