15:45 Limerick

Sunday 15 March 2020

All13:4014:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:5017:20

Charleville Cheese Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 6m 43.8s

Salsaretta²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| C

2/5

Sidestepped Cheltenham despite holding plenty of entries and comes here on the back of completing a hat-trick at Thurles last time out; steps up in class but should take this in her stride if progressing once again.

Form: 79-P111

Ask Mary^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss E A Lalor| T: R H Lalor| OR: 102| BF

50/1

Returns to chasing after a spell over hurdles; best recent chase effort came at Navan in January and hurdles form has been reasonable; fair performer but hard to make a strong case for.

Form: 882U32

Countess Cathleen^h²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: D Hickey| OR: 116

9/1

Well supported to win on only second chase appearance at Fairyhouse on penultimate start; only headed on run-in last time at Naas and looks to be improving; one for the shortlist.

Form: 659-612

Holly Flight^p1,t⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Brian Hayes| T: Colm Murphy| OR: 124

33/1

Returns to Ireland after an unsuccessful spell in UK where she finished runner-up in a Listed chase at Aintree before being tailed off later the same month at Doncaster; change of scenery and first-time cheekpieces may help but others preferred.

Form: 442626

Monbeg Zena⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: R M Power| T: O Murphy| OR: 122

7/1

Cost £110,000 after winning her sole Irish point-to-point, and off the mark on first over hurdles at Southwell in December 2018 before fortunately winning small field novice chase at February at Market Rasen; full of potential but this looks tough.

Form: 1/1-1

Moskovite^b1²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 123| C

20/1

Form and early season promise appears to have levelled out in a few starts recently including when last of four beaten over 100 lengths at Thurles behind likely favourite Salsaretta.

Form: 142094

Stucker Hill¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Mullins| T: W J Lanigan

33/1

Fair hurdler on her day; finished a remote third on her chasing debut at Limerick in December; better effort last time at Leopardstown shows she is going in the right direction but probably not up to winning this.

Form: P-95635

Tintangle^b³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott| OR: 128

9/2

Won well on first couple of starts over fences before struggling when stepping into graded company at Cork and Limerick over Christmas; no real improvement on two latest runs at Thules and Naas and difficult to make a strong case for at present.

Form: 113F42

Forecasts

Salsaretta (2/5), Tintangle (9/2), Monbeg Zena (7/1), Countess Cathleen (9/1), Moskovite (20/1), Holly Flight (33/1), Stucker Hill (33/1), Ask Mary (50/1)

There does not look to be anything in this field capable of beating SALSARETTA should the mare run up to the best of her form even if this represents a step up in class. It would be no surprise if she can land the four-timer here. Countess Cathleen may prove best of the rest based on her recent run at Naas where she only lost out in the closing stages and she looks to be improving nicely. Monbeg Zena was an expensive purchase and well regarded but she has yet to show a great deal on the track. Connections have been patient and there is chance they could be rewarded in the near future.