2022 Mares’ Chase Tips - 12/1 shot the value bet in open Grade Two

I’ve taken a look through the betting for the 2022 Mares’ Chase and picked out my best bets.

Elimay was touched off by Colreevy in this race 12 months ago. Willie Mullins’ grey was slightly inconvenienced by her stablemate’s tendency to jump right throughout and the form of that race was boosted greatly when Colreevy beat Monkfish and Envoi Allen in Grade One company at Punchestown.

Holding novice status didn’t stop Colreevy from winning this last year and Elimay could come up against another first-season chaser, in the form stablemate and former Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winner, Concertista. Mullins’ eight-year-old secured a pair of Grade Two victories in novice races earlier in the season and will come into her fourth Cheltenham Festival nice and fresh.

Despite jumping poorly and labouring out the back for much of last year’s Kim Muir, Mount Ida was able to stay on and claim an unlikely victory. Gordon Elliott’s hardy mare has run up to a high level this season, winning a Listed chase before edging out Elimay to win a Grade Three at Fairyhouse. 

The Glancing Queen secured two solid novice victories earlier in the campaign, before following the impressive L’Homme Presse home in the Grade Two Dipper on Trial’s Day. Alan King’s mare could be joined in the field by five-time Listed winner Zambella, a faller in this race 12 months ago, and Vienna Court, who’s already won two lucrative handicaps around Cheltenham this term.

Scarlet And Dove could play a part, if that gruelling run in the Thyestes Handicap hasn’t left its mark. This race is also an option for Put The Kettle On, but it would be a surprise if Henry De Bromhead was to head here, instead of letting his mare try to retain her Champion Chase crown. 

Willie Mullins, who usually dominates the mares’ races at this meeting, has the option of running both Agusta Gold and Dolcita on day four of the Cheltenham Festival. Maid O’Malley, Pink Legend and Global Equity can be backed at lengthy prices.

Elimay hasn’t shown the same level of form leading into Cheltenham as she did 12 months ago and I’m not sure how strong she is in the finish. Although she did win last year’s Kim Muir, going left-handed around this much sharper trip is a worry for Mount Ida. Concertista hasn’t jumped particularly convincingly this season and, while she clearly has plenty of room for improvement, Mullins’ former Festival winner has a Grade Two penalty to carry.

With lingering doubts about the leading trio, I’m going to have an each way punt. UK challengers The Glancing Queen and Vienna Court hold appeal, but the one who stands out to me is GIN ON LIME, who hasn’t been seen since that incredible recovery against My Drogo at Cheltenham’s November Meeting. 

Prior to that trip to Cheltenham, Henry De Bromhead’s mare had enjoyed a productive summer campaign over fences, destroying her rivals in three novice chases. Following a narrow defeat at the hands of Fan De Blues at Galway, Robbie Power’s mount gained sweet revenge at Tipperary, comfortably dispatching her Galway conqueror to win a Grade Three by 12 lengths.

At Cheltenham, Gin On Lime didn’t jump with the same fluency she had shown earlier in the season and looked there for the taking as My Drogo moved upsides at the second-last. Both made telling mistakes and it seemed like neither would be able to complete the race. However, as Harry Skelton hit the canvas, Rachael Blackmore made a miraculous recovery. Not only did she retain her spot in the saddle, but she managed to regather enough momentum for Gin On Lime to jump the last and trot over the line.

De Bromhead said following that race that he felt his mare had underperformed and could do with being freshened up. Put The Kettle On won the Arkle on the back of a similar break and De Bromhead is a master at getting runners ready for the Cheltenham Festival. 

Gin On Lime beat some capable rivals during the autumn, including a 15-length thrashing of leading Plate fancy Busselton as she won her Grade Three. She may be a novice, but Gin On Lime has eight chase starts to her name and, at the age of just six, plenty of improvement is expected.