Slowmotion 'in very good order' as she chases a hat-trick

The females will be centre stage at Limerick on Sunday, with a Grade 2 mares’ novice chase and a Grade 3 mares' novice hurdle the features of a seven-race card.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained Slowmotion has been anything but slow on her last two starts over fences and bids to make it three on the bounce under Jody McGarvey in the 2m6f Grade 2 chase (4.00).

Her trainer said: “She’s in very good order. She stayed on very well to win at at Naas over two miles and we think she'll handle this step up in trip. We gave her a little break after that win at Naas and we couldn’t be happier with her.”

With Cheltenham over, Willie Mullins can concentrate on firing in some winners on home soil in a bid to retain his trainers’ title and is represented by Daisy’s Gift in the €50,000 contest.

Mullins said: “She's been let down by her jumping and has fallen three times over fences.

'It's going to be tough'

"It’s going to be tough for her because Slowmotion looks to have an outstanding chance at the weights. We're just hoping our mare puts in a clear round and earns some black type.”

Seamus Spillane's Goulane Davina was no match for Slowmotion in a 2m beginners' chase at Naas in January but looked to be progressing nicely when shedding her maiden tag under Barry John Foley at Clonmel last month and is another worth considering.

If Mullins is lukewarm about the prospects of Daisy's Gift, he is much more confident about the chances of another recent Clonmel winner, Kate Appleby Shoes, who runs in the Grade 3 mares' novice hurdle (2.20).

Kate Appleby Shoes: 'She's a chaser in the making and has a very good chance'Credit: Patrick McCann

Mullins said: "She's a fine, big daughter of Flemensfirth who won her bumper here by 28 lengths and got off the mark over hurdles last month at Clonmel.

"She beat Awayinthewest that day and that one ended up running a nice race in the mares' novice hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday, so that form could be decent. She'll enjoy the testing ground and the trip. She's a chaser in the making and has a very good chance.”

Pat Fahy, trainer of Awayinthewest, is confident stablemate The Green Lady will run a big race.

“I think she has a great chance,” he said. “Willie’s mare will be hard to beat, but we know what we have too and think we'll make a right race of it.

"Our mare is in great form and is coming right. She's had a few minor problems lately but is over them and raring to go. She used to be a bit of a tearaway in her bumpers but settles nicely now, and we have Danny Mullins on board, which is a big help too.”