'Laurina is supposed to be the bet of the meeting but I wouldn't swap Maria'

Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m1f | 4yo | RUK

Willie Mullins has yet to meet defeat in this, the youngest race at the festival having been inaugurated in 2016, and his Laurina has been the talk of the festival preview-night circuit in Ireland – while you have only to watch her 11-length stroll in the Grade 3 Solerina Hurdle to be bowled over.

But Stuart Edmunds and Ciaran Gethings – the David against the Goliath that is Mullins and Ruby Walsh – believe they have a mare in Maria's Benefit who might just outspeed everything that the Laurina-headed opposition can throw at her.

Talented enough to be sent to Aintree at the end of her bumper season, Maria's Benefit has thrived over hurdles with her attacking, take-no-prisoners approach from the front.

In doing so she has taken Gethings through the last stages of his claim and into the big time.

The jockey said: "She has a very high cruising speed and is quite forward-going so something will have to go pretty quick to give her a lead, but, if something can, then happy days.

"If not, she’s made her own running every time before. She’s not one-dimensional at all."

Stuart Edmunds (left) with Gina Andrews and his first Cheltenham Festival winner, 2017 Kim Muir hero Domesday BookCredit: Grossick Racing Photography 0771

Edmunds spent many years assisting the late Renee Robeson and struck festival gold in his own name 12 months ago when Domesday Book won the Kim Muir.

"I couldn’t be happier with Maria's Benefit and she's in great form," said Edmunds on Wednesday.

"Everything's gone very smoothly. My major concern will be very soft ground. She's very speedy and I think horses by Beneficial are better on better ground. Fresh wet ground would probably be better than if it were gluey or tacky, and we're on a fresh course tomorrow."

There is no hint of impetuous youth speaking when Gethings suggests Maria's Benefit will cope with however the New course is riding.

"She's unbelievably tough and it was pretty soft at Taunton, while it was horrible at Doncaster," said Gethings. "Maybe Willie’s horses will handle it better than us but I don’t think we’ll struggle in it.

"Apparently Laurina is the best bet of the meeting. She's a very good mare and you do have to fear her, but I wouldn’t really swap Maria for anything."

Laurina and Paul Townend win the Solerina Mares Novice HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

What they say

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Cap Soleil
Cap Soleil has done nothing wrong all year and will love the ground. She's had a nice break and will be fresh. Laurina is supposed to be a banker but we’ll take our chance.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Laurina, Cut The Mustard, Pietralunga and Salsaretta
Laurina's a fine, big mare who should make a lovely chaser, and she has done well for us, winning both her starts. She was very impressive when landing a Grade 3 mares' novice at Fairyhouse in January. She's fit and well and has to have a big chance.

Also in the line-up is Cut The Mustard, whose jumping improved when she won a maiden at Punchestown last time. Mind you, it will need to improve again for a race like this.

Salsaretta will be having her first run for us. She's a maiden who ran three times over hurdles in France and is just starting to come right. Because of the experience she had in France, we thought it was worth letting her take her chance.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Angels Antics
She's probably a little bit outclassed but is a big strong mare who likes the soft ground and should be running on at the end.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Countister
I think she's a lot better than she showed at Sandown in a very messy race that turned into a two-furlong dash on very heavy ground. She seems in very good form and the Sandown race seems to have sharpened her up.

Martin Keighley, trainer of Spice Girl
She's won five of her six this season and probably won't mind the rain that’s coming because she'll stay further. She deserves to tackle this and Richard [Johnson] rides, which is good.

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