The Liberthine Mares Chase currently ran as the Mrs Paddy Powers Mare Chase is a race restricted to mares that takes place as part of the prestigious Cheltenham Festival in March.
The Liberthine Mares Chase, also known as the Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase, is a Grade 2 chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March. It is over an extended two and a half miles and was added to the programme in 2021, replacing the Centenary Novices’ Handicap Chase. Willie Mullins won the first two renewals with Colreevy and Elimay.
The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase, formerly known as the Liberthine Mares’ Chase, is open to mares aged five and up.
This Grade 2 National Hunt chase is contested over a distance of around 2 miles and 412 furlongs on the New Course at Cheltenham, and there are seventeen obstacles to be jumped during the race.
Every year on the fourth day of the Cheltenham Festival in March, it is planned to take place.
The introduction of this race was always likely to attract special attention from the powerful Willie Mullins stable. It was no surprise when he saddled four mares for the inaugural running in 2021, including favourite Elimay and second favourite Colreevy.
The race developed into a duel between the pair and it was Colreevy who got home in front. It was her fourth successive victory but she wasn’t finished yet. A career as a broodmare beckoned when she made her final racecourse appearance in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown. She was expected to finish behind star novice chasers Monkfish and Envoi Allen but she made all the running to beat the former by eight lengths, surviving a bad mistake at the last.
Elimay remained in training the following season with the Liberthine Mares Chase her Festival objective. She was beaten by the progressive Mount Ida at Fairyhouse in January before winning comfortably at Naas the following month. That set her up perfectly for Cheltenham where she started 9-4 second favourite behind stable companion Concertista.
Although the favourite jumped poorly and did not feature it was far from plain sailing for Elimay. She faced strong opposition up the Cheltenham hill from outsiders Pink Legend and Scarlet And Dove. She was not fluent jumping the final fence but did enough to beat Pink Legend by half a length with Scarlet And Dove just a nose away in third. Elimay was expected to follow up at Punchestown but Scarlet And Dove gained her revenge by 15 lengths.
Key Liberthine Mares Chase Trials
Although it seems a bit premature to identify the best trials for the Liberthine Mares Chase on the basis of just two renewals, Elimay has already hinted at a possible trend. Opportunities for mares at this trip are fairly limited so we could see them returning year after year.
It could also be significant that on both occasions she had her prep race at Naas in the Opera Hat Mares Chase in February. Colreevy’s previous outing prior to her 2021 victory came in the Kew Gardens Mares Chase at Thurles.
Liberthine Mares Chase Betting Trends
The market has so far proved a good guide to the outcome with both winners starting second favourite. Colreevy (2021) was 9-4 when beating 6-5 favourite Elimay. Third favourite Shattered Love (6-1) finished third in a race which gave the bookmakers little joy.
Concertista was 2-1 favourite in 2022 but made a series of mistakes before fading back into fifth place. 5-2 chance Mount Ida also ran well below her best, jumping markedly to her right and without any fluency. Bookmakers were cheering 33-1 chance Pink Legend and 28-1 shot Scarlet And Dove over the last two fences but it was 9-4 second favourite Elimay who came out on top.
Liberthine Mares Chase – Top Trainers and Jockeys
Willie Mullins ran four mares in the inaugural running, emerging with a 1-2 courtesy of Colreevy and Elimay. He saddled the two market leaders again in 2022, taking the prize with Elimay. The winning riders were Paul Townend (2021) and Mark Walsh (2022).
Betting on the Liberthine Mares Chase
The early indications are that the Liberthine Mares Chase is going to be a welcome addition to the Cheltenham Festival programme. The first two runnings both produced thrilling finishes and went the way of Festival King Willie Mullins. It is going to be difficult to look beyond the Mullins entries once again as he bids to establish a monopoly on this race.
The Mares Chase Cup at the Cheltenham Festival has quite a lively ante-post market.
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The Liberthine Mares Chase is 2 miles and 412 furlongs long.
Who was the winner of the 2021 Liberthine Mares Chase?
The winner of the Liberthine Mares Chase in 2021 was Colreevy.
Liberthine Mares Chase Facts
The Liberthine Mares’ Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to mares aged five years or older.
It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 and a half furlongs, and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped.
The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Summary of the Mares Chase
The Mares Chase is one of the new additions to the Cheltenham Festival.
It is already proving popular with punters and trainers.
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