Willie Mullins© Photo Healy Racing
Asthuria sports the famous Hurricane Fly colours of owner George Creighton as she tackles the Online Discounts At fairyhouse.ie Mares Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
Allblak Des Places gave the blue and green silks a successful first airing since the retirement of the great horse when scoring at this course last month, and the spotlight now falls on Asthuria for the two-and-a-half-mile event.
She's a twice-raced five-year-old daughter of Sagacity and on her latest effort back in February, the possible market leader finished second in a big field at Enghien, and perhaps the step up to this trip will play in her favour.
The Willie Mullins-trained runner will face some rivals with decent domestic form, though, principally Commeragh Trix who was second at this venue recently over quarter of a mile shorter.
Factor in the likes of promising point-to-pointer De Bennette useful bumper performer Seeking Susan and the well-bred Side Saddle and it is clear we have the makings of an informative heat.
Thirty five minutes later in the Next Racing At Fairyhouse Saturday January 30th Maiden Hurdle, another French recruit starts off for Mullins as Burgas represents Gigginstown House Stud in the hands of Bryan Cooper.
This fellow, a son of Protektor, has finished fourth in his three outings to date, including over fences at Auteuil on his most recent appearance last June.
The likelihood is that Burgas will need to come forward from that sort of level - more than feasible given where he's now housed - to match Space Cadet
The fact that the latter must concede 11Ib to Burgas makes things interesting, while Uaintseenothingyet is another to keep in mind.
There could be further joy for the Mullins family with Tony and Danny's Shannak seeming progressive enough to defy a 10Ib rise for a victory at this course a week and a half ago in the Your Clubs Fundraiser At Fairyhouse, Enquire Today Handicap Hurdle.
