Can Willie Mullins extend his superiority in mares' festival races to the chase?

4.15 Cheltenham
Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (Registered As The Liberthine Mares' Chase) (Grade 2) | 2m4½f | 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

Whatever your thoughts on the introduction of a mares' chase to the Cheltenham Festival at the expense of a handicap, the quality of the inaugural field is hard to crab.

The Mares' Hurdle (a Grade 2 at first) and the Mares' Novices' Hurdle did not attract a 150 performance on RPRs between them in their first runnings. You would take very short odds of the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase, which has been named in honour of mid-2000s Mildmay of Flete and Topham winner Liberthine, managing that feat.

Four of the 11 declared runners have put up a 150-plus performance in the last year, while a couple of others have that sort of form further back in their career. Elimay has got within touching distance of 160 with her second to Allaho and defeat of the re-opposing Shattered Love on her last two outings.

She would not be too far off championship standard once the 7lb weight-for-sex is factored in, although it would be a stretch to call her a loss to either the Ryanair or Champion Chase.

The same can be said for Colreevy and the Marsh, although her best would have been genuinely competitive there. Her form also ties in with the Kim Muir, having beaten Mount Ida by 12 lengths last time.

The much more experienced pair of Shattered Love and Magic Of Light also bring classy form. Magic Of Light is arguably more of a three-miler, even though she is not as slow as her Grand National second implies.

A positive reading of Shattered Love's ten-length win over Cabaret Queen in November has her in her best form for years. She gets no more weight from Elimay than when they met at Naas last month, but will more obviously benefit from the longer trip and evidently suits the course, having won the 2018 Marsh Novices' Chase.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

Trophy celebrates festival's finest mares

Connections of the Mares' Chase winner will receive a stunning trophy from sponsors Paddy Power which celebrates the great mares to have won at Cheltenham.

The trophy resembles a Cheltenham-themed Mount Rushmore, featuring Anaglogs Daughter, Glencaraig Lady, Liberthine and the great Dawn Run moulded into Cleeve Hill. On top of the hill is the sponsor's name, just like the bookmaker's iconic advertising sign on the hill throughout the years.

The impressive trophy for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase

It was created using 3D printing technology, with images rendered from archive footage of the four mares.

Paddy Power said: "The incredible eye for detail make this trophy a complete one-off and we can't wait for the race to cap what could be a record-breaking Festival for the Irish."

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Colreevy, Elimay, Salsaretta, Cabaret Queen
Colreevy has done everything right. She jumps, stays and battles well. Even though she’s only a novice she deserves her chance against these mares. She has a Grade 1 penalty which means she has to give weight away and the drying ground won’t be to our advantage either. Elimay had a great run behind Allaho in Thurles and her experience and natural jumping ability will be a great asset in this contest. Underfoot conditions will be a big help too. We’re very happy with her. Salsaretta has some form good enough to entitle her to run in this but unfortunately the drying conditions at Cheltenham aren’t in her favour. The opposite is true of Cabaret Queen and I think a smaller field and better ground are a big boost to her chances in this.

Henry Daly, trainer of Chilli Filli
A fast-run two and a half miles on goodish ground should suit her well. Hopefully she can run well.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Cut The Mustard
She'll love the better ground because she's been running in deep ground and absolutely hated it at Uttoxeter last time. But she's got a mountain to climb.

Magic Of Light: has only raced at Cheltenham once in her careerCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Magic Of Light
The ground will be perfect. She hops off that ground, as she showed when second in the Grand National, and I think she will love this. She should run a big race.

Denise Foster, trainer of Shattered Love
Some of her best form is on decent enough ground so she should cope with it. She was well held by Elimay at Naas but it was a nice run over a trip short of her best. She's won here before. This is her track and this is her trip. She's got a very solid each-way chance.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Zambella
The Irish seem to be winning everything but we'll be doing our best. She's a good mare and we're hoping for a good show. She'll handle the ground well.

Denis Hogan, trainer of Moyhenna
The top two mares will be hard to crack but our mare will run a big race. The only worry is the ground. We wouldn’t want it to dry out too much.
Reporting by James Stevens

Friday's race previews:

The most extraordinary ordinary horse on the cusp of racing immortality (Members' Club)

Henrietta Knight: I can't really see who is going to beat Al Boum Photo (Members' Club)

1.20 Cheltenham: Tom Collins breaks down a major match-up between Zanahiyr and Tritonic

1.55 Cheltenham: stick with Mullins and Skelton to solve puzzle in typically difficult handicap

2.30 Cheltenham: 'I'm sweet on him and he's a massive price' – focus on wide-open Albert Bartlett

3.05 Cheltenham: Al Boum Photo bids to join jumping legends as he chases historic hat-trick

Can shy champion Al Boum Photo create Cheltenham Gold Cup history? (Members' Club)

3.40 Cheltenham: O'Sullivan confident It Came To Pass can successfully defend Cheltenham crown

4.50 Cheltenham: will switch of festival plan pay off for JP McManus and 'Ballymore horse'?

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