2024 Mares' Chase Tips - Is Dinoblue a good thing in this Grade Two?

Jon Vine

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Last updated: 08 Mar 2024

Jon Vine 08 Mar 2024

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Free guide to the 2024 Mares' Chase
This Grade Two takes place on day four of the Cheltenham Festival on Friday 15th March
Dinoblue and Limerick Lace feature in our verdict

Expired

Last year's Mares' Chase winner, Impervious. (Getty)

The penultimate race on Gold Cup day is also the youngest of the meeting, the Mares' Chase. Owner, JP McManus has sent out the last two winners of this Grade Two and his famous yellow and green silks are prominent in the betting for this year's renewal.

Here's our free guide to the 2024 Mares' Chase. You'll find our best betting tips in the verdict section below.

2024 Mares' Chase Tips

Since finishing second to Maskada in the Grand Annual 12 months ago, Dinoblue has improved beyond recognition. Willie Mullins' mare won handicaps at Fairyhouse and Punchestown that spring, before kicking off this season with a Grade Three win against the geldings at Naas.

Dinoblue beat the boys again in the Grade One at Leopardstown over Christmas and was sent off at 4/1 to beat El Fabiolo in the Dublin Chase. Willie Mullins said his mare was working so well going into the Dublin Racing Festival that he fancied her to beat El Fabiolo, but the Champion Chase favourite proved too strong on the day.

Some see Dinoblue as a good thing in the Mares' Chase, which is understandable given her form. You could argue, however, that Mullins' seven-year-old hasn't performed to the best of her ability in either of her two starts at the Festival and she's completely unproven over this distance - although on breeding she should get it fairly comfortably.

I was all over Allegorie De Vassy leading into this race last year and everything went right for Paul Townend's mount, who was eventually out-battled after the last by the plucky impervious. With Townend in the saddle again, Allegorie De Vassy bounced back to form with a brilliant win over two miles at Naas last time out. Her form between those two runs was, however, patchy at best and I'm struggling to forgive Mullins' seven-year-old for her defeat here 12 months ago.

Gavin Cromwell has two runners in the field, with both preferring different ground. Limerick Lace has plenty of good form on heavy, having romped to victory at Clonmel in October before a brilliant second to Coko Beach in the Troytown. Brides Hill has shown her best form on nicely ground, winning all three of her starts this season at Listowel, Fairyhouse and Huntingdon.

Riviere D'etel has plenty of class, but a tendency to jump violently right hasn't helped on her previous starts at Cheltenham. Fantastic Lady is using this race on day four of the Cheltenham Festival as a warm-up for the Topham at Aintree, while Carole's Pass has plenty to find with the Irish mares at the ratings.

Found On has winning form around Cheltenham and, on good ground, she could challenge. Marsh Wren has only been beaten by Arclight since going chasing this season and defeated two capable Irish rivals at Thurles on her most recent start. Pink Legend has been a little out of form this season, but Venetia Williams' ten-year-old has placed in the last two renewals of this contest and cannot be ruled out lightly.

Verdict

2024 Mares' Chase

At her current price, I'm inclined to take on Dinoblue. I don't think the favourite will have any trouble seeing out this distance. There are worries about her previous form at Cheltenham, though, and she'll be giving weight to a number of dangerous rivals.

Paul Townend will likely ride Allegorie De Vassy, who certainly has the ability to win this race, but could also throw in the towel like she did 12 months ago. Of the British contenders, Marsh Wren has done nothing wrong since switching to fences and she could raise her game enough to challenge for the places.

Limerick Lace is by no means a forlorn hope. Gavin Cromwell's mare clocked an RPR of 152 when winning at Clonmel before going close in the Troytown, and Jonjo O'Neill Jnr's mount was far too classy for the British at Doncaster after Christmas. Limerick Lace should get the soft ground that she craves during Festival week and we know how well Cromwell's horses take to Cheltenham.

Limerick Lace

2024 Mares' Chase Tip

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