Festival favourite Elimay ready to take centre stage for Cheltenham rehearsal

1.40 Naas
BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase (Listed) | 2m | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTV

She may not have won a race in over a year, but Elimay enhanced her reputation by chasing home Allaho in a Grade 2 at Thurles last month, and a reproduction of that effort would surely suffice here.

Willie Mullins is likely to be mob-handed in the inaugural Grade 2 Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in which Elimay could yet play a leading role. The champion trainer's hand is not bad here either, with Yukon Lil also a contender if able to brush up on her jumping.

However, this race revolves around Elimay, already as short as 7-2 for Cheltenham and likely to notch her first success over fences in over a year. She does have to give weight away to her four rivals, but it would still be a surprise if she was not up to the task.

The identically rated Shattered Love is a classy mare in her own right. A seven-time winner over fences, including the 2018 JLT Novices' Chase at the festival, Shattered Love would be happier if this contest were over an extra half mile at least.

On the other hand, if the ground comes up on the testing side, there is no mare in the line-up who is better equipped to cope with the conditions than Gordon Elliott's strapping ten-year-old. She also gets 5lb from the short-priced favourite which may give her a squeak.

Fellow Gigginstown-owned mare Tintangle makes up a two-pronged attack for Elliott, but she looks like she has her work cut out to get involved.

The field is completed by Waitnsee, who is likely to go off a big price but capable of filling the frame in these races without necessarily being good enough to win them.

What they say

Frank Berry, racing manager for JP McManus, owner of Elimay
She ran very well the last day when second to Allaho at Thurles. The winner looked as though he ran up to form and Willie has been happy with Elimay since. Shattered Love is a good mare so it's a good race. We'll get this out of the way and then we'll know where we're going with her.

Eddie O'Leary, racing manager for Gigginstown House Stud, owner of Shattered Love and Tintangle
The trip is on the short side for Shattered Love, but it's a nice race for her and hopefully she can run well. Rachael [Blackmore] gets on well with Tintangle so hopefully she can get the best out of her. We'll give it a shot anyway. If it doesn't work she'll head to the paddocks.

John Ryan, trainer of Waitnsee
She's a very lively outsider. I wouldn't be afraid of any mare with this one on her day. Hopefully the ground is nice. Nice ground over two and a half miles is what she wants.

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