Farmhouse Foods John & Chich Fowler Memorial E.B.F. Mares Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 17:37 | Winning time: 5m 21.80s

Westerner Lady⁸⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142

7/4

She's won eight from her previous nine starts, five of them over fences. Met only defeat in that sequence when tackling Alpha Des Obeaux at Cork over this trip in November. Against her own sex, she should prove a tough nut to crack.

Form: 11211F-

Girly Girl⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

12/1

Frontrunner who has yet to win in six starts over fences and fallen the last twice, surely denting her confidence, trainer and jockey are in sparkling but this may be beyond them.

Form: 533FF3

Keppols Queen^t⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: M J Bolger| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 131

5/1

So far has fallen just short over fences, failing to open her account after seven attempts. Behind Slowmotion over 2m at Naas in February, similar tale in prospect here.

Form: PF342U-

Not For Burning²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: M A Enright| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 127

20/1

Now ten-years-old and facing a stiff task in here amongst some improving young rivals. She's honest and will give her running but probably requires something to go wrong elsewhere to repeat December C&D win on these terms.

Form: 13514-0

Presenting Mahler¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny Mullins| T: J P Ryan| OR: 110

66/1

Just the one win over fences came at Sligo in September and looks flattered by it now, struggled in four runs since turn of the year and limited expectations now.

Form: B68558-

Water Sprite¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott

8/1

Won a beginners event over 2m at Wexford this month as she liked on just second chase start, striking up a good rapport with this rider. More needed but shouldn't be discounted.

Form: 13F81F-

Slowmotion²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 136

13/8

Won her first two over fences, travelled strongly last time over 2m6f at Limerick but couldn't get by game winner on testing ground. Drops back in trip and rates a leading contender.

Form: F21121

Forecasts

Slowmotion (13/8), Westerner Lady (7/4), Keppols Queen (5/1), Water Sprite (8/1), Girly Girl (12/1), Not For Burning (20/1), Presenting Mahler (66/1)

WESTERNER LADY has become a winning machine, with eight from her previous nine, and she may well be up to conceding weight against her own sex in this contest. She's ultra-consistent and is tipped to score again. Slowmotion seemed to be outstayed over 2m6f last time when finishing second at Limerick so the drop in trio should suit her, though she may be given something to think about by Wexford scorer Water Sprite. Denis O'Regan got a fine tune from here recently and she could have more to come on her third outing over fences.