Next race off: can Willie Mullins make it five on the day in the Mares' Chase?

Friday: 4.50 CheltenhamMrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (Grade 2) | 2m4½f | 5yo+ | RTV

Willie Mullins generally farms mares' races at the Cheltenham Festival and it was fitting the trainer saddled the first two home in the inaugural running of the Mares' Chase last season.

Colreevy managed to win last year as a novice and Concertista bids to follow suit, although their winter preparations have differed.

She has been kept to mares-only chases, whereas Colreevy had already proved herself against the boys by capturing the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick.

Concertista picked up a 3lb penalty for plundering a Grade 2 mares' novice chase over Christmas but is a sound jumper and the best of these over hurdles by some way. She loves Cheltenham and can only improve.

Nonetheless, it goes against the grain to back a novice conceding weight to proper Grade 2 mares and she makes the least appeal of the three clear market leaders.

There were calls in some quarters to run Mount Ida in the Gold Cup rather than the Mares' Chase, which is justifiable when you cast your mind back to her stunning victory in last season's Kim Muir over the Gold Cup course and distance.

Mount Ida: stormed to victory at last year's festival in the Kim MuirCredit: David Keane

The mare detached herself from the field and traded at monster prices in running before eventually finding her rhythm and sauntering home by six and a half lengths. On that display, the assumption was we would never see Mount Ida over a trip short of three miles again.

Her lethargic early showing in the Kim Muir remains a head-scratcher as her appetite for the game cannot be questioned based on her previous and subsequent starts.

The concern is Mount Ida regularly jumps slightly to the right. Bar two appearances at the festival, all of her chase and hurdle runs have been on right-handed courses. While that tendency is a hindrance, her raw talent and guaranteed stamina will have her strongly involved at the business end.

Elimay was second in 2021 and doesn't have a 3lb penalty to deal with in her bid to go one better this year.

There generally isn't much in it when she meets Mount Ida and the pair are one apiece in previous meetings ahead of an eagerly anticipated third in the trilogy.

However, Elimay is 3lb worse off for a half-length defeat to Mount Ida at Fairyhouse in January and she has a knack of being beaten at short prices, having lost at evens, 2-5, 6-5, 100-30 and evens on five of her last seven starts.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Munir and Souede have Irish and British hopes

There could be a British winner of the Mares' Chase, although success is much more likely to come from Ireland. No matter where they hail from, there is a decent chance the triumphant owners will be Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

The men with the double green silks have feet in both camps in this particular portion of the Prestbury Cup, with the Willie Mullins-trained Concertista lining up against Zambella from the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard in the second running of this contest.

Mullins saddled the first and second in the inaugural running of the Grade 2 race, with Colreevy defeating hot favourite Elimay. The runner-up might well head the market again if punters prefer her to the Gordon Elliott-trained Mount Ida, the last-to-first winner of last year's Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup.

Concertista is a previous festival scorer herself, with her 2020 victory in the Mares' Novice Hurdle sandwiched by two close seconds at the meeting. The most recent of those was in last year's mares' hurdle, which connections once again considered before ultimately opting to allow the eight-year-old to bid for a chasing hat-trick.

Concertista has won both her races over fences so farCredit: Healy Racing

Anthony Bromley, racing manager to Munir and Souede, said: "Concertista is obviously only a novice and she has to carry a 3lb penalty for winning a Graded novice chase, which is a bit boring. To have a penalty and a lack of experience in this race isn't ideal but she has run well at the Cheltenham Festival, winning and being beaten in two photo-finishes in the last three seasons, so we know she goes well here.

"She did have a setback in January with a hind-leg infection, which is why she didn't get a third chase run, but she hasn't missed a day during the build-up and she goes to Cheltenham fit.

"It was never a done deal to pick this race over the Mares' Hurdle but she has schooled well for Paul Townend in the last couple of weeks, and that made the decision for us."

Zambella and Daryl Jacob clear the last on their way to victory at WarwickCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images/Pool)

Assessing Zambella, who was still in contention when falling three out 12 months ago, Bromley added: "Zambella has done very little wrong. Her only defeat this season was due to an error by trainer and manager. We ran her back a bit quick after Doncaster when we dropped her down to two miles at Leicester.

"Going back in trip and running her two weeks after Doncaster wasn't her fault, it was our mistake. We think she has improved this season, she seems to be in a good place and Nigel's horses are running well.

"We're hopeful of a nice run but on the ratings we've got it all to do because the three leading Irish mares do bring some possibly stronger form to the table."

Munir, Souede and Bromley can at least take consolation from knowing they have one of those Irish mares.

What they say

Frank Berry, racing manager to JP McManus, owner of Elimay
She has had a couple of setbacks this season, going to Carlisle only for there to be no race and running below par at Aintree. She ran nicely at Naas last time and did it very well there. Willie Mullins seems to be happy with her.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Mount Ida
I'm delighted with her. She just seems to be a much sweeter mare this season. She's jumping a lot better and everything is a lot smoother. I couldn't knock the form of her two wins. She looks a rock-solid contender.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Pink Legend
She isn't always the most consistent mare but on her day she would have a squeak and it would be good if she could run into a place.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Vienna Court and Zambella
They're the best of the British, aren't they? It depends what the Irish bring over and how good they are.
Reporting by Lee Mottershead

Friday's Cheltenham Festival previews:

1.30 Cheltenham: who will come out on top between star juveniles Pied Piper and Vauban?

2.10 Cheltenham: 'He's got a big chance' - who fancies their chances in a red-hot County Hurdle?

2.50 Cheltenham: 'He's got the class and the form' - leading Albert Bartlett quotes and insight

3.30 Cheltenham: leading trainers on their chances of winning the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup

4.10 Cheltenham: which trainer is taking the best horse he's ever brought to Cheltenham?

5.30 Cheltenham: 'He'll run a huge race' - is there a dark horse lurking in the Martin Pipe?

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