Colm Murphy believes his star mare Voler La Vedette has every chance of claiming the first Grade 1 prize of her career in tomorrow's Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
The seven-year-old was beaten a little over three lengths by the mighty Hurricane Fly in the same contest 12 months ago, and returns to the Co. Meath track in every bit as good a form having bolted up in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan last month.
"It's a small but select field. There might not be many runners but there are no slouches in there. We're happy with our lady and she's in good form.
"She won really well in Navan the last day and was good in this race last year, so fingers crossed she runs up to her best and she can run another big one," said Murphy.
Although Hurricane Fly is not in attendance this year, his trainer Willie Mullins still has a strong hand with Mourad and Final Approach intended runners.
Thousand Stars looked set to be the hot favourite earlier in the week but does not take his chance, while Mullins has declared Mikael D'Haguenet but he is set to run today instead.
The champion trainer said: "I just wasn't happy with Thousand Stars when he worked the other day so he'll wait for Christmas now.
"I've declared Mikael D'Haguenet just in case Saturday was off because of fog or something, but all going well, he'll run on Saturday instead. He hasn't won for a while and Saturday's race would look a good opportunity for him to get his head in front.
"Mourad is in great form and I'm hoping he can still improve a bit. He'll have no problem with the ground or the trip, so fingers crossed for him. Final Approach is difficult to place in handicaps so we thought we'd let him take his chance on Sunday."
The Edward O'Grady-trained The Real Article completes the five-runner field.
