Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (Registered As The Liberthine Mares' Chase) (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Grade 2 bumper winner who was third of 23 in the Grade 2 mares' novice hurdle here (2m1f, good to soft) last March; has easily won Listed mares' novice chases on her two outings over fences at Bangor (2m1f, soft) in November and Warwick (2m4f, soft) in December, and both of those front-running performances read well; today is a much tougher test of her credentials but she's very highly regarded and it remains to be seen where her limitations lie.

Concedes weight all round and pulled up in the Irish Gold Cup last time, though was facing a very tough task against males on that first rules attempt at 3m; unbeaten over fences previously (2m4f-2m6f, various ground) including a Grade 1 win against males at Fairyhouse last April and a Listed stroll at Doncaster in December; races prominently; firmly in calculations.

Runner-up in this race in 2024 (soft) and went one better last year (good to soft); made mistakes when beaten on return to action at Navan in November and has since posted easy wins at Fairyhouse (Grade 3) and Naas (Listed) when heavily odds-on each time; she's the one to beat.

Made it 2-2 over fences in the Grade 2 Arkle Trial here (2m, soft) in November before finishing third in Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown in December (2m1f, yielding; albeit no match for the first two); has won over 2m4f but faded up the hill in the 2m4f Mares' Hurdle here 12 months ago; probably needs a career-best performance if she's to run into a place.

Runner-up in the Arkle here (2m, good to soft) 12 months ago and returned from a break with a game win Grade 3 against males at Naas (2m, soft) in November; unproven at today's trip and well beaten in Grade 1 against males at Leopardstown (2m1f, yielding) in December, but was badly hampered at the second fence; has an each-way shout if seeing out the distance.