16:50 Cheltenham

Friday 18 March 2022

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (Registered As The Liberthine Mares' Chase) (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 5m 14.62s

Concertista^t⁸⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| C

2/1

2020 Dawn Run winner who was collared in the dying strides by Black Tears in the mares' hurdle at this meeting 12 months ago. 2-2 in Grade 2 mares' novice chases this season. More to come over fences.

Form: 1123-11

Scarlet And Dove⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Cooper| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 149

28/1

Good efforts behind Mount Ida on first 2 outings this winter and shaped better than being pulled up would suggest in Thyestes at Gowran in January. More a place than win contender.

Form: 152-23P

Elimay^p,t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155| D

9/4

Edged out by stablemate Coolreevy in first running of this 12 months ago. Warmed up for this year's renewal with a second successive win in Naas mares' listed race last month. Leading claims.

Form: 121-321

Maid O'Malley³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 121| D

100/1

Has thrived since front-running tactics have been adopted, winning mares' handicaps at Wetherby and Carlisle in recent months. This surely a step too far, though.

Form: 22-2211

Mount Ida^t⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 156| C| D

5/2

Remarkable performance to win Kim Muir last year as she didn't look to be going anywhere early on (jumped right). Has built on that with wins at Clonmel and Fairyhouse (beat Ellimay) this term.

Form: 1213-11

Pink Legend³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 137| CD

33/1

Likeable chaser who saw off Vienna Court to win Huntingdon listed race over this trip in January. However, she was beaten when falling 3 out in Uttoxeter race won by Zambella last month.

Form: 1-1P61U

Vienna Court⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 141| BF| CD

14/1

Has returned a much improved model this term, winning a pair of competitive C&D handicaps around the turn of the year. Respectable second to Pink Legend in Huntingdon listed race since.

Form: 43-3112

Zambella³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 142| D

10/1

Very useful chaser who has won mares' chases on 3 of her last 4 starts, the first 2 listed events. Won't need to raise her game too much to give the Irish something to think about.

Form: 2-41121

Forecasts

Concertista (2/1), Elimay (9/4), Mount Ida (5/2), Zambella (10/1), Vienna Court (14/1), Scarlet And Dove (28/1), Pink Legend (33/1), Maid O'Malley (100/1)

ELIMAY had to settle for second behind a very classy stablemate in the inaugural running of this but can go one better now. Mount Ida beat the selection at Fairyhouse in January but there is a worry she'll jump out to her right back on a left-handed track. She got away with it in the Kim Muir last year but may not do so against an opponent of Elimay's calibre. Concertista is best of the rest.