Willie Mullins' Laurina to face just three rivals in Mares' Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday

Willie Mullins' six-year-old has been mightily impressive in her four starts for the Closutton maestro and is set to hand out another demolition job to her challengers in the Listed Mares' Hurdle.

The Sandown contest is just a stepping stone for bigger targets with connections already stating the Champion Hurdle is the main aim in March.

Despite missing a number of races in which she was entered in so far this season, conditions are finally perfect for her to kick off her campaign.

Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: "We've had to be very patient with her, because we've been waiting on the ground.

"This looks an ideal starting point for her. She's a second-season novice, so it's nice not to have to pitch her straight into an open Grade 1, and it looks as though the ground will be soft.

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"She's in good form, and we're hoping she can produce the same sort of form she showed last year.

"If she's going to be a Champion Hurdle mare, she's going to have to be winning a race like this."

Laurina will be long odds-on to win in the hands of Ruby Walsh – with Oliver Sherwood's Got Away, the Noel Williams-trained Sensulano and Smaoineamh Alainn from Robert Walford's yard all rated vastly inferior to her.

She is a best-priced 5-1 second-favourite for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, behind dual winner Buveur D'Air at 6-4.

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