Elliott hoping Love will not be shattered by another Mullins mare

2.10 Thurles
Horse & Jockey Hotel European Breeders Fund Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle | 2m | Listed | ATR

You have got to feel some sympathy for Shattered Love. The imposing daughter of Yeats has bumped into subsequent Royal Bond winner Airlie Beach and last season's Triumph Hurdle fourth Let's Dance on her last two outings and now she has to lock horns with another fearsome female from the Willie Mullins stable in the shape of Asthuria.

Gordon Elliott believes Shattered Love will develop into an exciting chaser down the line and is worried about the two-mile trip as well, but she certainly has the form in the book and could take some stopping.

"She's not a bad mare in her own right and I think she will make a lovely chaser in time," Elliott said. "This trip is probably on the short side for her but we have to make the most of these opportunity when they come up. She got very close to Airlie Beach at Down Royal and that form doesn't look too bad at all now, does it?"

But can she oust Asthuria? Mullins has made no secret of the high regard he has for the mare who is owned by the Hurricane Fly team.

Mullins said: "She's a mare we like a lot. She has shown us enough at home to suggest she’s capable of running in the top mares races and put up a good performance when winning a maiden hurdle over 2m4f at Fairyhouse last month. She's a fine big mare and a good jumper who does everything right and I don’t expect the drop in distance will be a problem for her."

Joseph O'Brien was supposed to be double-handed but Along The Shore will not line up as she is in season so it is left to Kalopsia to lead the challenge from Owning Hill.

"Along The Shore is in season so she will not run. Kalopsia did the job nicely last time and it was great to see her returning to that sort of form. Any rain would not be good for her but it would be nice if she could pick up some black type," O'Brien said.

Catcheragain won a handicap hurdle at Gowran Park last month off a mark of 104 and has subsequently found the going tough in a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Cork but she drops a mile in trip so may not have stayed three miles last time behind Rathnure Rebel.