Elimay and Mark Walsh winning the Opera Hat Chase© Photo Healy Racing
Odds of 2/13 suggested the BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase would be heading the way of Elimay and the JP McManus-owned grey duly landed the Listed feature for the second successive year in a common canter at Naas.
The victory completed a treble on the day for rider Mark Walsh, all in the green and gold colours, and also brought up a double for champion trainer Willie Mullins.
The eight-year-old mare made all the running in first time cheek pieces against just four rivals, and Walsh hardly had to move a muscle on the run-in as she eased clear to beat Court Maid by five lengths. La Chanteuse picked up some important black type a further seven and a half lengths back in third.
Elimay was just denied by stablemate Colreevy in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares at last year’s Cheltenham Festival and will bid to go one better in the Grade 2 next month.
Mullins said, "We're delighted to win the Opera Hat Chase, named after a famous mare. I don't know whether Elimay can be as good as her but we'll try our best.
“She'll go for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase now. Mark was happy that she carried him the whole way and she did everything that he asked her. She took a breather turning for home and when she heard the other mares coming up behind her she just picked up again.
“She got a bit close to the last and got a bit of a bang on her knee, but I think it just looked like a skin wound. We're not worried unless she's stiff or sore in the morning.
“I think she enjoyed being out there in front, I'd say that's the first time she has jumped from fence to fence from the beginning.
“On her last run she was backing off her fences a little bit. The first time cheekpieces could have been the reason for improvement today or maybe just making the running. She seemed to like it.”
Elimay is generally a 4/1 chance for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase, with stablemate Concertista a best-priced 11/4 favourite.
(GC & AM)
