Well-fancied Silver Forever not among Irish-dominated entries for Mares' Chase

Silver Forever, who was as short as 8-1 for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, does not feature among 15 entries for the Grade 2 event revealed on Tuesday.

The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old, owned by Colm Donlon, is 2-2 over fences this season, most recently landing a Listed mares' chase at Newbury in December, and is entered in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.

A Listed winner over hurdles in January 2020, Silver Forever was the leading British hope for the Mares' Chase. The new race at the meeting was run for the first time last year with Colreevy leading home a 1-2-3-4-5 for Ireland.

"She's had a recurrence of an old pelvic injury," said Nicholls. "She wasn't going to be ready for Cheltenham so we've drawn stumps for the season and will get her ready for some nice races in the autumn.

"She's capable of running at a high level. We didn't want to take any chances and end up with her getting a more serious injury. There was enough of a warning light there and her welfare comes first."

Ten of the 15 entries for this year's race are trained in Ireland, including market principals Concertista, Mount Ida, Riviere D'Etel and last year's runner-up Elimay, although only the latter has this race as her sole festival entry.

The home challenge could include Dipper second The Glancing Queen and Listed winners Pink Legend and Zambella.

Allegorie De Vassy: heads the betting for the Mares' Novice HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The six runnings of the Parnell Properties Mares' Novice Hurdle have gone to Ireland. Willie Mullins landed the first five and is responsible for ante-post favourite Allegorie De Vassy, who was one of 42 entries for the day three event.

Mullins has 14 entries in the Grade 2, including fellow leading fancies Brandy Love and Dinoblue, with 29 of the 42 contenders trained in Ireland.

Mares' Novice Hurdle entries

Henry de Bromhead struck last year with Telmesomethinggirl and only has one entry in Music Of Tara, who finished sixth at Leopardstown in December on her sole start for connections.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Party Central, an impressive winner at the Dublin Racing Festival, featured in the entries but will also be considered for the County Hurdle, while Elle Est Belle, trained by Dan Skelton, looks one of the main hopes for Britain after her Sidney Banks success at Huntingdon last week.

There were few surprises at the acceptance stage for the major novice contests and JCB Triumph Hurdle with leading contenders Constitution Hill, Jonbon, Sir Gerhard and Dysart Dynamo standing their ground in the Sky Bet Supreme and Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame remained in contention for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase and Turners Novices' Chase, while Triumph favourite Pied Piper remains on course for the festival.

However, one notable absentee was Gerri Colombe, who was around 12-1 for the Albert Bartlett after two victories this season for De Bromhead.

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