Prolific Listen Dear bidding to step up again at Naas

Listen Dear bids to extend her winning run to seven when lining up in the featured BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase at Naas on Saturday.Willie Mullins' charge is three from three since switching to fences, most recently impressing in a Grade Three contest at Cork in December. She drops to Listed class for her latest assignment, but Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, feels the seven-year-old faces the toughest test of her career to date as she bids to give weight and a beating to Joseph O'Brien's talented mare Slowmotion. Mullins said: " She's been fantastic this season after winning so many races. "However, she has to give 11lb to Slowmotion, who is rated only 5lb lower, so we're 6lb wrong at the weights. "She's in good form, but she'll need to produce a career-best performance to win and we're hopeful rather than confident." The JP McManus-owned Slowmotion, a Grade Two winner over hurdles, has taken time to find her feet over fences.She fell at the first fence on her debut at Wexford and was hard pressed to open her account on her last visit to the Kildare track in January. Keppols Queen,Solita, Dorkas and Elusive Ivy complete the six-strong field. Only four line up for the concluding Cavan Developments Home Builder Supporting Kill GAA Flat Race, but it throws up a fascinating clash between two horses prominent in the betting for the Champion Bumper at next month's Cheltenham Festival. Carter McKay looked a smart sort when winning on his first start for Mullins at Leopardstown over Christmas and that form has been boosted since, with runner-up Bakmaj scoring at the same venue.He faces the impeccably-bred West Coast Time, who made a big impression when scoring on his debut for O'Brien at Cork last month.Patrick Mullins rode both horses to their debut victories and is unsure who will come out on top on Saturday.He said: "Carter McKay was good in Leopardstown and the form looks good with the second horse winning since."However, I rode West Coast Time in Cork and he's a very good and very well-bred horse."It's going to be an informative race and I'd be more hopeful than confident."I think both of them are Cheltenham-standard horses and wouldn't be surprised if they're both in the thick of it in the Champion Bumper."