The long-awaited return of Laurina looks set to be delayed again as trainer Willie Mullins has admitted that the brilliant mare is likely to swerve a scheduled seasonal debut at the Cheltenham International Meeting on Saturday.
Laurina had been a warm-order fancy for the Grade 2 contest at Prestbury Park and was likely to be a prominent figure in the weekend's horse racing naps, although Mullins has suggested that ground conditions have forced a re-think and a run in the International Hurdle is "unlikely".
Speaking on Thursday, Mullins said:
It's the ground. Because of what the situation is at Cheltenham [currently good, good to soft in places] and in light of the forecast we've had to have a serious think about running.
It's looking unlikely she'll travel.
Laurina hasn't raced since extending her unbeaten record over hurdles to four when romping to victory at Fairyhouse in April, a victory which came just a few weeks after she had cruised to an 18-length win in the Mares Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival in March.
The 5-year-old is 5/1 for the Mares Hurdle at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival in the spring and there is the tantalising possibility that she could head to the Champion Hurdle, for which she is also priced 5/1.
The considerable figure of Buveur D'Air looms at the head of the market for the Champion Hurdle in March though as the even-money favourite bids to win the race for a third season running.
Buveur D'Air made his first start of the campaign earlier this month, downing Samcro to win the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.
Sumerville Boy finished a distant fourth in the Fighting Fifth and the reigning Supreme champion will be on something of a recovery mission at Cheltenham this weekend as he looks set to run in the International Hurdle, albeit it seems unlikely that Laurina will be in the mix for that race. The wait for her reappearance continues.
