Leading Mares' Chase hope Impervious set to take on the boys this weekend

Colm Murphy is set to unleash his star mare Impervious against the boys at Punchestown on Sunday in the Grade 3 Kildare Novice Chase, a race won in the last two years by Bob Olinger and Envoi Allen.

Impervious has taken to fences in impressive fashion, and backed up a beginners' chase win at Wexford with a Grade 2 success at Cork last month when swooping late to deny Dinoblue.

Impervious has been bought by JP McManus since that Cork win and Murphy has nominated the Grade 3 contest on Sunday as her next target.

JP McManus: new owner of ImperviousCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Murphy said: "She will get an entry for Punchestown on Sunday. It's a Graded race over two and a half miles, so that is where we are thinking of going."

Murphy said he has "no worries whatsoever" about the 2m4f trip given she won over the same distance as a novice hurdler.

Having finished a creditable sixth in last year's Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, Impervious seems to have improved for the switch to fences and is now a leading contender for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, for which she is a 3-1 shot with the sponsors.

Topping that market at 13-8 is the Willie Mullins-trained Allegorie De Vassy, who put in an impressive display when winning at Limerick over Christmas, but Murphy's mare could rival her for favouritism if she wins on Sunday.

Murphy also saddled Cadatharla to make a winning handicap debut for McManus at Naas on Sunday, and he hopes there is more to come from the five-year-old.

He said: "Cadatharla won well but he was entitled to on the form of his maiden hurdle runs. He was very green and didn't jump great, but he is only five so hopefully he can keep improving."

Murphy hopes impressive handicap hurdle winner King Kal will return later in the season having had a setback since his win at Punchestown in October.

Murphy said: "King Kal picked up an injury after Punchestown. He's a fragile fellow so it will be a little while before he is out again."

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