The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase is a new Festival race, ran for the first time in 2021.
Registered as The Liberthine Mares' Chase, it is run over the same course and distance as the Ryanair Chase.
Each mare carries a minimum of 11st 2lb, with penalties incurred for winners of Grade 1 (5lb) and Grade 2 (3lb) chases.
The aim of the race is to encourage owners and trainers to continue to enhance the population of quality jumping mares to help guarantee the future of the sport.
It replaced the Centenary Novices’ Chase (moved to Sandown’s Imperial Cup card the weekend prior to the Festival).
Whilst too soon to identify any trends, it is no surprise at all to see Willie Mullins train the first two winners (1-2-4 in the inaugural run).
MARES’ CHASE 2024 ODDS
PREVIOUS WINNERS
Runner-up in the Mares' Chase 12 months earlier, Elimay got up in the closing stages in 2022, with four in with a chance at the last.
The grey, a remarkable 10th winner of the week for Willie Mullins, was ridden by Mark Walsh:
She had been just held off by her stablemate Colreevy in 2021, with the Mullins pair going head-to-head from a long way out: