Cheltenham form put to the test as Kim Muir winner Mount Ida takes on Elimay

2.20 Fairyhouse
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This Listed contest has drawn two of Ireland's most talented chasing mares to Fairyhouse just over a fortnight after their appearances at the Cheltenham Festival, with Mount Ida and Elimay set to clash.

Champion Chase winner Put The Kettle On and Colreevy, winner of the Mares' Chase last month, are the only two Irish-trained mares rated higher over fences than the top two in this five-runner race.

Elimay is rated 2lb superior to the Denise Foster-trained Kim Muir winner Mount Ida but will face a tough task giving that rival 6lb.

Elimay (grey): just touched off by stablemate Colreevy in the mares' chase at CheltenhamCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Mount Ida hit 999-1 in-running before Jack Kennedy somehow managed to turn defeat into victory with a never-say-die effort and the Gold Cup winning rider will hope he is not required to perform another resurrection of her chances again on Easter weekend.

Despite having made heavy weather of it early, the seven-year-old won the 21-runner handicap with ease and should relish going right-handed on the evidence of some of her early jumps at Cheltenham.

Elimay arguably got involved slightly earlier than ideal when going down on her sword when a half-length second at the festival, not helped by the winner jumping right while she was on her outer.

The seven-year-old is proven on decent ground, is effective from 2m to 2m4½f and consistently runs to ratings in the 150s, while Mount Ida's latest win was the first time she posted an RPR above 145.

Denise Foster on Mount Ida: 'She was brilliant at the Cheltenham Festival and has come out of that in excellent form'Credit: Getty Images

The step up to 3m2f seemed to play to Mount Ida's strengths at the festival and this 2m5f trip will surely be a greater help to Elimay.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Abbey Magic and Zarkareva, as well as Demi Plie, trained by Padraig Roche, have plenty to find on ratings but have been found a good opportunity to earn some black type.

Demi Plie is rated 8lb lower than Abbey Magic but could get close to her as she has won at the track and has form on decent ground.

Rachael Blackmore, who is slugging it out with Paul Townend at the top of the jockeys' championship, would have been on Abbey Magic here but she is serving the second day of her two-day suspension for her ride on A Plus Tard in the Gold Cup.

What they say

Denise Foster, trainer of Mount Ida
She was brilliant at the Cheltenham Festival and has come out of that in excellent form – she looks really well. Jack was unbelievable on her in the Kim Muir and hopefully she can storm home again.

Frank Berry, racing manager to JP McManus, owner of Elimay
She's versatile in terms of ground and trip, and I thought she ran a blinder at Cheltenham when she just got outgunned. It's not going to be easy against Mount Ida but Willie [Mullins] is happy with her.

Padraig Roche, trainer of Demi Plie
She'll be going in foal this year so it would be great to pick up a bit of black type with her, although I know she's wrong at the weights here. She seems to be a better chaser than hurdler.

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