Voler La Vedette is not a confirmed runner against Hurricane Fly in Sunday's BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Murphy mare needs rain in order to take on Hurricane Fly
Voler La Vedette is not a confirmed runner against Hurricane Fly in Sunday's BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Colm Murphy's mare has been in fine form this season, winning all three of her starts including a first Grade One success in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
She has an entry in Sunday's feature race, which could see the racecourse return of last-year's Irish and English Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly, but Murphy is relying on some rain to guarantee her participation.
Should the ground not ease, Murphy will probably avoid taking on Willie Mullins' ace and give his star mare an outing in the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran on Thursday instead.
Murphy told
At The Races: "We haven't made a final decision - a lot will depend on the ground.
"It's good ground at the moment and we'd want some rain if we are going to take Hurricane Fly on, especially in his back yard. We'll wait and see what the weather is like during the week."
The eight-year-old mare was last seen beating Mourad in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown and that success was the sixth win from seven starts for jockey Andrew Lynch.
"Andrew gets on well with her," explained Murphy.
"She seems a better mare this year, she's improved and she settles better - maybe that's the reason."
Looking further ahead to Cheltenham, the Co. Wexford handler has entered her in both the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, but is yet to decide on a firm target.
Murphy said: "She's in both races but we'll leave it until later on to decide. We're certainly not ruling out the World Hurdle - theres every chance she'll go down that route but we'll see what she does in her next race first."
