Slowmotion out to end Listen Dear's unbeaten run over fences

BBA Ireland Ltd Opera Hat Mares Novice Chase (Listed) | 2m, 5yo+ | ATR

Listen Dear puts her unbeaten record over fences on the line against five rivals in this event named after Opera Hat, a Grade 1-winning chaser of the 1990s who achieved eight of her 13 wins over fences at this track.

The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old is seeking a fourth chase win having landed a Grade 3 event by eight lengths at Cork in December on her most recent start.

She faces what her trainer describes as her "biggest test to date" as she bids to concede weight to her rivals.

Slowmotion, a course and distance winner on her most recent start, is best treated by the race conditions and receives 11lb from Listen Dear who is rated 5lb her superior on official figures.

Trained by Joseph O'Brien, Slowmotion will be renewing rivalry with Elusive Ivy who finished second to her over the same course last month before winning a handicap chase at Leopardstown.

O'Brien said yesterday: "Slowmotion is in good form. Her rating suggests she should be very competitive, if she has improved both mentally and in her jumping since her win over the course."

Solita, a dual chase winner at Fairyhouse, represents Paul Nolan and will be racing over fences for the first time since April.

A dual Grade 3 winner over hurdles, the Jessica Harrington-trained Keppols Queen will be seeking a first win over fences having failed to complete on her last two starts.

Cheltenham Festival bumper candidates, Carter McKay, trained by Willie Mullins and a winner on his racecourse debut at Leopardstown in December, and West Coast Time, trained by Joseph O'Brien for Michael Tabor and an easy winner on debut at Cork last month, clash in the four-runner bumper over 2m3f (5.00).