In his latest Cheltenham Festival preview, Steve Ryder looks ahead to an open looking renewal of the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase now run as the third race on Gold Cup day.
Mares Chase
The open hurdle races, novice hurdles and novice chases at Cheltenham have seen a decrease in number of runners after the 12pm deadline today.
For the latest news on entries, scratchings and key races to follow this week, see Road to Cheltenham's latest article for Oddschecker Unlimited.
Steve Ryder has looked over the Mares’ Chase, now run as the third race on Gold Cup day. 19 entries remain for this Grade 2 contest which is now being run for the fifth time since its inauguration in 2021.
All four previous renewals have been won by Irish trainers with the first two being trained by Willie Mullins, who has also provided the runner-up for the previous two seasons.
Obviously, there are a lot less trends to concentrate on with this race but it is worth concentrating on the top of the market with no winner so far being a bigger SP than 3/1.
Currently only two horses are that price or shorter at the time of writing and they are both owned by JP McManus who has a fantastic record in this race. His six runners in the race have resulted in three winners, two seconds and a fifth.
Both last year’s winner Limerick Lace and last year’s runner-up Dinoblue are still entered as is the exciting novice Bioluminescence. All four previous winners had all won last-time-out in at least listed class but that is a trend that the Bioluminescence doesn’t hit as she finished 2nd last time behind Dancing City at Naas.
The news of Sir Gino missing the Arkle may result in Only By Night heading to that race instead rather than tackling this trip of 2m4½f that may stretch her based on her latest run at Exeter. The improving Telepathique could head the UK challenge having beaten Brides Hill at Huntingdon earlier this month.
Mares Chase Cheltenham Tips
Novices have a good record in this race and I am hoping that trend can continue with BIOLUMINESCENCE (best priced at 3/1) this year.
The Gavin Cromwell trained seven-year-old was a progressive novice hurdler who won a Grade 3 last season before winning by three lengths at Limerick on her chasing debut.
Bioluminescence had to concede 1lb to Dancing City in a Grade 3 Novice Chase when only beaten 3 ½ lengths over 3m1f which may have stretched her stamina.
The drop back in trip should suit her well and she looks most open to progress against the likes of Dinoblue and Allegorie De Vassy who may not be as good as last season.
