Mares Chase Tips 2022
Mares’ Chase tips from Cheltenham 2022 looks at the penultimate race of the entire Festival. This is the most recent addition to the Festival, having only had its inauguration last year. So, with little to go on for trends, it’s going to be an exciting task to scour through this year’s strong-looking renewal for Mares’ Chase tips.
Mares’ Chase Potential Runners & Favourites
This is a contest that will only get stronger and stronger as more renewals roll by. And because there has only been one previous race, it means that a big dive through this year’s contenders is needed.
ELIMAY had been the favourite to win last year’s Mares’ Chase, but she could not get the better of Colreevy on the day. The Willie Mullins-trained Elimay had gone off as the favourite, and that could be the same again this year. The form has undoubtedly been there from her, having won a Listed effort at Naas in February as a warm-up.
CONCERTISTA also holds an entry for the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, in which she was second last year. Concertista has taken to the fences well this season. It has been a successful switch, too, winning both efforts at Cork and Limerick in December.
MOUNT IDA brings a bit more chase experience at the table than a fair chunk of her rivals on the day. It has been two wins from two over the fences for Mount Ida this season, interestingly getting the better of Elimay at Fairyhouse in January by half a length.
Other names to watch in the market for some potential each-way considerations are MAID O’MALLEY and ZAMBELLA. This season, the latter has been thriving for Nigel Twiston-Davies, and while this is a big step up in grade for her, place claims could be there.
Mares’ Chase Noticeable Confirmed Runners
Horse | Silks | Trainer/Jockey | Odds |
Elimay | J: Mark Walsh T: Willie Mullins | 2/1 | |
Mount Ida | J: Davy Russell T: Gordon Elliott | 2/1 | |
Concertista | J: Paul Townend T: Willie Mullins | 7/2 | |
Zambella | J: Daryl Jacob T: Nigel Twiston-Davies | 9/1 | |
Vienna Court | J: Sam Twiston-Davies T: Nigel Twiston-Davies | 14/1 | |
Scarlet And Dove | J: B J Cooper T: Joseph O’Brien | 16/1 | |
Pink Legend | J: Charlie Deutsch T: Venetia Williams | 66/1 | |
Maid O’Malley | J: Sam Coltherd T: Stuart Coltherd | 100/1 |
*Odds Correct as of 12pm 16/03/22*
How Often Does a Favourite Horse Win The Mares’ Chase Race
This is the one area of Mares’ Chase tips for the Cheltenham Festival 2022 that there is not a lot to go on. It’s been just the one previous renewal of the contest, which was won by Colreevy last year. She wasn’t the favourite and took the win from a 9/4 SP. Elimay was the favourite and took the runner-up spot.
Mares Chase Favourites vs Winners
Year | Favourite Horse* | Winning Horse |
2021 | Elimay (2nd) | Colreevy (9/4) |
*(-) = Finishing Position, UR = Unseated Rider, F = Faller, RO = Ran Out, PU = Pulled Up
Mares’ Chase History & Present Time
This Cheltenham Festival race, the newest of the lot, is officially Liberthine Mares’ Chase, but due to sponsorship, it’s currently known as the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase.
The Mares’ Chase was introduced to give more exposure to the mares’ programme in National Hunt racing, and it replaced the Listed Novices’ Handicap Chase in 2021. The Listed Novices’ Handicap was a Day 1 fixture, so the Boodles Juvenile Handicap moved forward to Tuesday from Wednesday, and the Grand Annual moved from Thursday to fill the Wednesday spot.
The Mares’ Chase is a 2m 4 1/2f trip around the New Course at Cheltenham, and it features 17 fences. It entered the scene as a Grade 2, still its current status.
Mares’ Chase Jockey & Trainer Records
The winning trainer from the 2021 inauguration of the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival was Willie Mullins. He had gone into the fixture with a substantial crop, fielding four runners. Moreover, the top trainer filled out three of the first four spots in the race. So, his entries would be keen to watch for Mares’ Chase tips. Last year’s winning jockey was Paul Townend.