‘Job done’ for Laurina as she seals Champion place
Mullins delighted with comfortable success Trainer to run four in quest for first Gold Cup
Laurina did everything that was expected of her when running out an easy winner at Punchestown yesterday and will now head to the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 12. She remains best priced at 7-2.
Both trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh were delighted with her performance, especially as she had endured an interrupted preparation owing to a flu vaccination last week, with Mullins regarding the effort as “job done”.
Walsh was happy to take a lead off stablemate Stormy Ireland until just before the home turn in this 2½ mile contest and with Laurina’s stamina not in doubt, he kicked for home and the pair won, without being hard pressed, by six lengths.
Mullins said: “She took a good blow, and Ruby said she needed it badly. When he asked her to move up she moved up nicely, and did everything he asked her.
“That’s job done, and hopefully we’ll get a clear run from now to Cheltenham. The Champion Hurdle is where we are aiming.
“She got her flu jab last week – and we missed a week’s training, which is not ideal. I wanted the last week to sharpen her up and have her really hopping. We had to take a pull, and I’m happy knowing how we would normally shape her training coming up to a race like this.
“The buzz and bustle of Cheltenham will really sharpen her up – and for a Champion Hurdle, she is going to have to be sharper.”
Walsh said: “She had to be better today and Stormy Ireland is a fair little filly in her own right. She jumped well in the main, bar one mistake when she was a little bit too relaxed. Once I got her racing at the third-last, she was very good.”
The jockey is confident Laurina has earned her place in next month’s big race, saying: “She needed that run. It worked for [2016 Champion Hurdle winner] Annie Power winning this, and Limini and Apple’s Jade have used it too. I’m not worried about going down in trip – I can’t think of too many doubtful stayers that won Champion Hurdles.”
Mullins will have his traditional strong team to take to Cheltenham and reported that he was likely to have four runners in the Magners Gold Cup, one of the few Festival races he has never won.
The trainer is targeting the race with Kemboy, a 9/1 chance, Bellshill (12/1), Al Boum Photo (14/1) and Invitation Only (20/1).