STRANGE that there are more Irish-trained runners at Sandown today than there are British-trained runners at Leopardstown, on the first day of the Dublin Racing Festival.

There is precedent too for Laurina’s bid to land the Scilly Isles Chase. The last Irish-trained runner in the race was Gitane Du Berlais, a Willie Mullins-trained mare, like Laurina, who won the 2015 renewal. And Laurina herself is one for one at Sandown.