Salsaretta bids to maintain unbeaten run over fences for top team at Limerick

Charleville Cheese Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase | 2m6½f | RTV

The ratings suggest the only race here is for minor money as Salsaretta, winner of her last three starts, is 20lb clear of her nearest rival, yet has to give the field a mere 3lb.

Salsaretta would have had decent claims in the Marsh Novices' Chase at Cheltenham and today's Grade 2 race for mares should be hers for the taking.

After a largely disappointing hurdling career, Salsaretta has gone from strength to strength since being sent chasing by Willie Mullins, and was last seen making all to win over 2m6f at Thurles.

On that performance, Salsaretta should be a mare destined to contest Grade 1 races in the future and it would be a huge surprise if she couldn't take the next step up the ladder.

Apart from Salsaretta, it looks a competitive race, and reward for filling the places will be great with valuable black type on offer.

That carrot has proved enough of an incentive for Olly Murphy, understudy to Gordon Elliott before taking out his licence, to have his first runner as a fully fledged trainer in Ireland with Monbeg Zena.

Olly Murphy: 'It would be nice to get a bit of black-type if at all possible'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Elliott's Tintangle is the second highest-rated on 128 and on her day could give the favourite a race, while Denis Hogan's Moskovite is another capable of being involved; but this has the look of a one-horse race.

What the stats say

Denis Hogan has won the last two runnings with Moyhenna and Youcantcallherthat and relies on the blinkered Moskovite as he tries to make it three successive wins.

He may be the man with the most impressive recent record, but this is a race Willie Mullins has done well in, and one he won with Vroum Vroum Mag before she became famous in 2015.

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Salsaretta
She's done everything right over fences, winning all three starts, and in addition to the ground, she is very well treated at the weights. We’re looking forward to a big run.

Denis Hogan: 'She has tons of ability and, if the blinkers could focus her, she could have a chance'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Denis Hickey, trainer of Countess Cathleen
She's improved a lot over fences and loves soft ground. We had the option of Navan on Saturday but she got black type the last day, so we have nothing to lose. She might be a little out of her depth but hopefully she might sneak into a place.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Monbeg Zena
She hasn't been the easiest mare to train. It would be nice to get a bit of black-type if at all possible, but obviously Willie's mare looks like she will be hard to beat.

Denis Hogan, trainer of Moskovite
It will be hard, to be honest. We're trying blinkers. I can't say they have made a huge difference at home but we'd love to see her show what she can do. She has tons of ability and, if the blinkers could focus her, she could have a chance.

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