Kapard out to underline Ireland's dominance in mares' chase division

Thursday: 2.00 Warwick
Actioncoach Invest In The Best Lady Godiva Mares Novices' Chase (Listed) | 2m4f | 4yo+ | RTV

The inaugural running of the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival was dominated by Irish-trained runners. Colreevy led home four of her compatriots as they swept the 2m4½f Grade 2 event. The British mares just aren't quite as good.

The best of the Brits, barring recent Aintree winner Zambella, all line up in this Listed contest, and with three places on offer this looks a good punting opportunity.

Little River Bay, who is unbeaten in two runs over fences and is a new player in the division for trainer Philip Hobbs, was put in as the early favourite. She has proved to be an accurate jumper so far and warrants the step up in class after a couple of comfortable victories.

However, those wins came in five-and four-runner fields and this is a much stiffer test. The way she finished off her race over 2m6½f last time, beating the reopposing Clondaw Caitlin into second, also indicates this trip may be her minimum.

Her toughest rivals may be The Glancing Queen, who was impressive when winning on her chase debut at Bangor, and chasing debutante Allavina. Both smart over hurdles, they could play leading hands in this sphere in 2022 and will look to make their mark here.

It would be foolish to ignore Irish challenger Kapard given their dominance in the division. The Henry de Bromhead-trained five-year-old has only had five starts and was perhaps handed victory by a wayward Mt Leinster last time, but that form stacks up reasonably well given the runner-up was placed at Grade 1 level over hurdles.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

What they say

Alan King, trainer of The Glancing Queen
I was delighted with her win at Bangor and we’ve always planned to run her here. Her win last time was over a trip [2m1½f] which is pretty sharp for her, and I hope she'll be even better over two and a half miles. If all goes well, we'd look at the Mares' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Allavina
She's schooled nicely at home but usually comes on for her first run of the season. Whether she's ready to bag some black type here I don’t know, but I’m sure she will further down the line.

Ruth Jefferson, trainer of Clondaw Caitlin
She probably didn't see out the two mile six and a half furlong trip last time so hopefully this drop in distance should play to her strengths. She has something to find with Little River Bay but any further rain would help her cause.

Noel Williams, trainer of Farne
She’s schooled nicely for her first go over fences. It’s not ideal to be running in a Listed race first time as it will take some winning, but hopefully she’ll give a good account.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Kapard
She was great at Navan on her first start over fences. She's a lovely, big mare and we're hoping the step up in trip will suit.

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