Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase

AFTER coming up just short against Limerick Lace in the same event 12 months ago, there were no hard-luck stories this time for Dinoblue, who ran out one of the most comprehensive winners of the week in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase - notching her first Festival win at the fourth attempt.

Also second in the Grand Annual a year earlier, J.P. McManus’ eight-year-old continued an excellent week’s work for the green and gold, Mark Walsh and Willie Mullins in running out an eight-and-a-half-length scorer as 6/4 favourite.

The Grade 2 was already heading her direction at the time when Allegorie De Vassy crashed out at the last, leaving Brides Hill to pick up second, with Shecouldbeanything completing an Irish 1-2-3.

“She’s a much better mare on good ground,” said McManus. “Mark said she loved it out there and loved the surface, whereas last year she found it tough. She’s been at it a while now, so her jumping should be good!”

Walsh also suggested that the two-and-a-half-mile trip is probably no her optimum, feeling she lacks the pace required for two miles.”

Mullins added: “She ran a great race last year and it didn’t work out, today everything worked out for her. I’m just sorry for Allegorie De Vassy, she’d run a cracker of a race. She was jumping too big, would have preferred a bit of company up the front with her, I think. It might have just had her a little bit sharper.

“She was just ballooning fences and once I saw her doing that early in play, I didn’t think she could be still challenging going to the last, because that takes a lot of energy out of them.”

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Brides Hill (second) and Limerick Lace (fifth)

“We will take second on this occasion as if Allegorie De Vassy hadn’t fallen at the last, we would have been third. She ran a great race, but the winner was a very good winner. She was on their coattails coming down the hill, but they just quickened away from her. I thought the last day she would win, but that was a good run and I expected her to run well. We might go onto Punchestown now. I suppose slower ground would suit Limerick Lace. I don’t know what we will do with her. She did a lovely bit of work 10 days ago. I suppose we were optimistic coming here, but on the evidence of her form this season she hasn’t come back the same mare.”

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Shecouldbeanything (third)

“She ran a great race again and I’m very happy. She does fall slightly short of those top mares, but she has loads of experience now. I thought she ran above herself and we will probably go to the Irish Grand National now.”