We’ve got ourselves a brand new race for the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, with the Paddy Power Mares’ Chase replacing a Listed Novices’ Handicap Chase on Gold Cup day and it’s an opportunity to see some of the leading mares competing over the Prestbury Park course over bigger obstacles.
Benie Des Dieux hasn’t been seen at a racecourse during the current National Hunt season although the ten-year-old has progressed from hurdles after finishing second in the Mares’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival and could be the one to beat in this race.
It will be interesting to see how Benie shapes up over the bigger obstacles and Colreevy is a viable contender, with Mullins also training a five-year-old that won a Novices’ Chase at Punchestown before winning the Matchbook Betting Exchange Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick on Boxing Day.
Put The Kettle On is no stranger to Cheltenham Festival success after winning the Arkle Challenge Trophy last season and she has since won the Grade 2 Shloer Chase when taking advantage of Defi Du Seuil falling in that particular encounter. She then ran commendably when finishing third behind Chacun Pour Soi and Notebook at Leopardstown in a Grade 1 encounter.
Indeed, you could probably say that Put The Kettle On represents the best each-way value in the race, especially considering that the seven-year-old has regularly performed well at the Festival, with Willie Mullins also has a string of other viable contenders and that includes Elfile who was third in last year’s Mares Hurdle race.
JP McManus also has a lively contender in the Mullins yard, with Elimay a French-bred horse who ran in a listed race at Punchestown in mid-November, with Jonjo O’Neill-trained runner Annie Mc another one for the shortlist and it will be interesting to see which horses are still in the shake-up in this two mile, four-and-a-half furlong contest.