Ruby Walsh feels Laurina has to improve by "seven or eight pounds" to be a Unibet Champion Hurdle contender.
That's the road connections have decided to take with last year's Trull House Stud Mares' winner who is unbeaten in four starts over timber.
Writing in his exclusive Racing UK blog Walsh said: "Laurina’s working well, I think there’s talk of her maybe starting off in the Ascot Hurdle. I think (owner) Jared Sullivan is keen for her to go down the Champion Hurdle road and that’s the plan for her.
"She has a rating of 152, add in the mares’ allowance makes it 159, and she probably has to improve seven or eight pounds to be a live Champion Hurdle contender but that's not unsurmountable.
"A bit like Samcro she should improve through the season and hopefully get close enough to Buveur d’Air’s rating to give him a race."
Laurina is currently a 5/1 chance with Sky Bet for the Cheltenham showpiece.
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