A NEAR flawless debut over fences which marked her out as more than a match for any gelding around and set her up for a hugely exciting campaign saw Laurina take centre stage in a Willie Mullins treble.

On her first start since finishing fourth in last season’s Champion Hurdle, the Sullivan Bloodstock-owned Laurina (30/100) lined up in the two-and-a-half-mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase where her opponents included the top novice hurdler Minella Indo. The six-year-old produced a tremendous display under Paul Townend which bodes well for her chasing career.

She jumped superbly and was clever when in getting close to one of the fences before the straight and it was all one way traffic off the last bend. Laurina was in charge from the third last and she stamped her authority on the race well before the last fence to defeat Minella Indo by eight lengths.

“She’s a fine big mare who can take fences in her stride, she’s one that we are excited about,” said Mullins who was already looking towards the mares’ chase at Cheltenham in 2021. “The way she jumps she could come back to two miles but Paul thought that was a good trip for her. The Grade 1 at Limerick over Christmas would be an obvious target but Faugheen could be going there.”

Bright start

The Mullins-trained Getabird (8/15) got his season off to a bright start in the Talbot Hotel Carlow Chase where he posted a slightly slower time than that of Laurina over the same course and distance.

The lightly raced but very talented Susannah Ricci-owned gelding looked to be on good terms with himself and turned in a pleasing effort to take control after the final fence for a length-and-a-half triumph over the 147-rated Paloma Blue.

The novice Castlebrook ran very well to finish the same distance away in third and the winning trainer indicated that Getabird may stick to right-handed tracks for the time being.

Mullins also took the wraps off a very interesting type in Franco De Port (6/5) in the Ladbrokes Novice Hurdle. This four-year-old looks a horse of substantial potential and it will be interesting to see what direction he takes as he loses his novice status this weekend having won over hurdles in France in March.

The Bruton Street V-owned son of Coastal Path got the front for Townend jumping the final flight and went on to defeat the promising Cayd Boy by five and a half lengths with chief market rival Sixshooter, who jumped poorly, a further two and a quarter lengths back. The winner is likely to stick to two miles.

Short work for Elliott

GORDON Elliott’s Easywork lived up to this name with a polished display on his first start over timber in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle over two miles.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned five-year-old came here after an impressive win in a Down Royal bumper several weeks previously.

The strong-travelling gelding went to the front for Davy Russell with three to jump and always gave the impression that he had matters under control.

The 11/8 favourite only needed to be nudged out on the run to defeat Mount Leinster by a length and a half.

“He likes soft ground and he’s a nice type who could progress into graded novices at some stage this season,” stated the trainer, who added: “I doubt he will run again before Christmas.”

Favourite

There was further joy for favourite backers in the opening Timmy Maher Memorial 3-Y-O Hurdle where Dinard Rose (8/13) made up for a somewhat unlucky defeat on her hurdling debut at Galway in late October.

Very Excellent was second in that Galway race and he cleared the last flight with a handy lead but after looking as though she was in big trouble at one stage the Nina Walsh-owned daughter of Champs Elysees stayed on dourly to get on top late on.

Another winner for the in-form 7lb claimer Eoin Walsh, Dinard Rose got home by a length and a quarter to record the fourth success of her racing career for connections.

Excellent Enright

JOCKEY Philip Enright is on course to post his best seasonal tally for at least five years as he moved on to the 23-winner mark for the season – his best total since 2014/15 – on Edward O’Grady’s Allardyce (6/1) in the two-mile handicap chase.

The patiently ridden gelding seized control of this race between the last two fences and he accounted for Conright Boy by half a dozen lengths.

O’Grady trains the winner for the Class of ’67 Racing Club.

Placed

Iknowwhereiamnow (8/1) struck for Philip Dempsey and Simon Torrens in the Connolly’s Topline Mares Handicap Hurdle.

A winner at Fairyhouse earlier in the year, this daughter of Arcadio was always well placed under Torrens and got to the front after two out before a two-and-a-half-length victory over Rebel Turn.

This reliable TFC Syndicate-owned five-year-old could easily add to her haul again.