2023 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase: Statistics and trends

When and where can I watch it? 4.50pm on Friday 17 March, live on Racing TV.

What Grade? Grade Two. What course? New Course. What distance? 2m 4f+ (17 fences).

Prize-money: £120,000.

Sponsor: Paddy Power.

The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase took place for the first time at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, replacing the Novices’ Handicap Chase previously held on the opening day of the meeting. The new contest, registered as The Liberthine Mares’ Chase, is held on the final day of the Festival.

As of 2019, the number of mares in training had increased to 23%, an all-time high in addition to the number of individual runners and the median rating for mares.

This follows efforts across the industry to bolster the mares’ programme, with the ultimate goal being for mares to comprise at least 25% of horses in training by 2024. Longer-term, the ambition is to increase that number to 30% by 2030.

The registered race title honours Liberthine, the high-class mare owned by former Cheltenham racecourse chairman Robert Waley-Cohen. Liberthine landed the race known as the Mildmay Of Flete by seven lengths back in 2005 for Nicky Henderson under Waley-Cohen’s son Sam, while the mare later went on to land the Topham Chase in 2006 over the Grand National fences at Aintree.

Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse said: “We’re looking forward to being able to bring the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase into the racing calendar. Not only is this a great example of the sport working together to boost the mares’ programme in Britain to benefit the industry, but we also now have an improved mares’ population providing quality competition.”

Racing TV ambassador Ruby Walsh is the leading all-time rider at the Cheltenham Festival and added: “The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase will prove a great addition to the Festival, especially when it beds in over a three or four-year period. Jumps horses rarely have a financial value when they finish racing but, for owners who are lucky enough to have a good mare, they can be worth a considerable amount as brood mares.

“The need for mares-only races is paramount for the value of unraced fillies, to encourage owners to buy them as racehorses. Having the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase to go along with the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle adds to the attraction of purchasing a filly. Cheltenham is showing its support to the breeding industry by adding this race and, in my opinion, showing a loyalty to the whole horse racing industry and not just the sport.”

Ruth Quinn, Director Of International Racing and Racing Development at the British Horseracing Authority, said: “The addition of a Grade Two Mares’ Chase at the Festival is another tangible, positive step in the efforts being made to encourage owners and trainers to continue to enhance the population of quality jumping mares.

“Having such a tempting target to aim for is sure to have a long-term impact on breeders, owners and trainers when it comes to thinking about buying a mare, or keeping a mare in training and campaigning her over fences.”

Elimay gave trainer Willie Mullins his 10th winner at this year’s Cheltenham Festival to complete a fantastic five-timer on the day in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase.

Runner-up 12 months ago, Elimay got up in the closing stages under Mark Walsh in the colours JP McManus.

Zambella cut out the running from Maid O’Malley, but the raced changed complexion in the straight.

There were four horses in with a winning chance at the last with Elimay (9-4) proving the stronger up the hill to score by half a length from Pink Legend. Scarlet And Dove was a nose away in third place.

Reflecting on a hugely successful week, Mullins said: “I didn’t realise no one has ever trained this many winners here, but since it became a four-day Festival things changed numbers-wise.

“I’d imagine this sort of thing will happen more regularly and if they go to five days someone will do it easily!

“I’m delighted with the whole team and I’m going to accept the award with all my team because they are the ones who do it in the background leaving me free.”

The inaugural contest served up an absolute thriller as two star Willie Mullins mares tussled in a protracted duel up the Cheltenham straight, the Grade One winner Colreevy (9/4) making it four from four for the season in the new Grade Two contest.

Colreevy looked strongest at the line and always looked to be holding stablemate Elimay (6/5F), doing so by half a length with former Festival winner Shattered Love (6/1) back in third. Salsaretta (40/1) was well back in fourth as Ireland trained the first five home.

Mullins said: "They're two brave mares to do what they did. They ran their hearts out and both are really good jumpers."

Colreevy signed off with Grade One victory on her next start at the Punchestown Festival, her final career start. She beat Monkfish and Envoi Allen in a highly-anticipated Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase.