Mares have a good record in Navan's Ladbrokes Ireland Lismullen Hurdle and the prolific Little King Robin is in contention to add to it this Sunday.
The popular Colin Bowe-trained star is one of only seven entries remaining in the €40,000 Grade Two prize and boasts a career high rating after her impressive Down Royal success last Friday. That was her 15th start in 2014 but Little King Robin has won seven of those, including her last five over flights.
She also has an entry in the following Sunday’s Morgiana at Punchestown but the Lismullen looks an easier assignment with Willie Mullins’ Zaidpour top-rated.
Solerina’s back-to-back Lismullen victories in 2004-05 were followed by other victories for the fairer sex with Sweet Kiln in 2007 and Voler La Vedette in 2011.
Another star mare in line to appear this weekend is the four-year-old Analifet who is one of just eight left in Saturday’s Grade Three Fishery Lane Hurdle at Naas.
Willie Mullins’s runner was pulled up injured last Christmas when starting a 3-10 favourite for the big Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown won by Guitar Pete. Prior to that Analifet had landed similar odds in a Grade Three at Fairyhouse.
Mullins has also left his Punchestown Champion Bumper hero Shaneshill in a maiden hurdle at Naas. Already as low as 10-1 for Cheltenham’s Neptune Hurdle, Shaneshill was runner up to Silver Concorde at Cheltenham last season but subsequently reversed that form at Punchestown.
