Top-class mare Laurina, winner of seven races over hurdles including a wide-margin triumph at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival, has been retired from racing aged seven.

Recruited from Guillaume Macaire’s stable in France by owner Sullivan Bloodstock Limited and sent to trainer Willie Mullins, Laurina recorded bloodless victories in her first six races for her Irish stable.

After easy wins at Tramore and in Grade 3 company at Fairyhouse, she romped home by 18 lengths in the Grade 2 Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival in 2018 under Paul Townend.

Laurina and Paul Townend record an emphatic success in the Grade 2 Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival |
©George Selwyn


Laurina followed that win with another facile triumph in the Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final at Fairyhouse.

Her next start came in January 2019, a match race at Sandown that she won in a canter, before recording another decisive win at Punchestown. Sent off only 5-2 for the 2019 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, Laurina could only finish fourth behind the ill-fated Espoir D’Allen.

Despite making a successful chasing debut that November, Laurina failed to complete in her next two starts, both Grade 1s, and ended last season with a lacklustre third in a Grade 3 hurdle at Punchestown won by stablemate Elfile.

Following wind surgery and a switch to trainer Paul Nicholls’ Ditcheat stable, Laurina made her seasonal debut in the three-runner Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle last weekend but despite receiving the best part of a stone from both rivals, she trailed home in last place. The mare was reported to have bled after the race.

Laurina will now be offered for sale as a wildcard entry at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale, which takes place on December 12-14 at Fairyhouse.