Salsaretta faces off against Shattered Love as racing goes ahead

John & Chich Fowler Memorial EBF Mares Chase (Grade 3) | 2m5f | 5yo+ | RTV

After the course successfully passed an 8am inspection, this mares' chase provides a fascinating clash between Shattered Love and Salsaretta.

On the face of it, Shattered Love has the advantage over Salsaretta, who has to give away weight to all six opponents. That includes 5lb to Shattered Love, despite being rated 4lb inferior to her.

While Salsaretta faces a stiff task off these terms, that is not to say her ceiling is her current mark of 148. Far from it. There is a case to be made that she could be well up to giving weight and a beating to this field, but it will require a career-best performance.

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Salsaretta has won four of her five chase starts for Willie Mullins and is the pick of Paul Townend over Cabaret Queen, who was no match for Shattered Love when they squared off at Clonmel in November.

Shattered Love, since beaten over hurdles at Navan, is 3lb worse off with Cabaret Queen but should be able to confirm superiority over that rival.

However, while Gigginstown's 152-rated mare is well treated by the race conditions, she will need to be at her best to hold potential improver Salsaretta, particularly with the Mullins team in such strong form over the festive period. Ireland's champion trainer had 20 winners between December 26 and January 1.

Moyhenna had no luck at Limerick last week and is mildly interesting on this quick reappearance, while Agusta Gold also has place claims despite fitness concerns on her first start of the season.

The going is described as heavy.

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Salsaretta and Cabaret Queen
Salsaretta is not well treated by the conditions of the race but I'm hoping she might be open to more improvement than her rating suggests. The heavy ground will be a huge help for her. Cabaret Queen is better treated by the race conditions but the trip might be a little short for her.

Eddie O'Leary, racing manager to Gigginstown House Stud, owners of Shattered Love
She's back over fences on ground she likes and hopefully that'll bring about improvement. Her last run was over hurdles and, many times when you think they're well in over hurdles, there's a reason why they're rated much lower over hurdles – it's because they're not as good. Hopefully the return to chasing will bring her back to what she was.

Mags Mullins, trainer of Agusta Gold
It's her first run of the season and she'll probably need it. A clear round would be great and if she was placed it would be even better. She'll come on a lot for it.

Denis Hogan, trainer of Moyhenna
Donagh [Meyler] wisely pulled her up after she was impeded at Limerick and she came out of that race bouncing so we are happy to take our chance. Obviously she is closely matched with Cabaret Queen from the Kerry National but it is a very competitive race.

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