Conti a class act in mares chase Kala Conti powered clear in the closing stages to run out an impressive winner of the Coolmore Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase at Cork, giving Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy a treble on the card. The Robcour-owned mare was prominent throughout in the Grade 2 event and disputed with 5/6 favourite Kargese from halfway. A slightly untidy leap from the hotpot three from home gave Kala Conti the advantage and she asserted over the penultimate fence. The 11/4 was good as she went clear over the last and went on to post a comprehensive 16 length success over Kargese, who blundered at the final fence. "She isn't the biggest in the world but has a great attitude and had her ears pricked after two fences today,” said Elliott. “It looked like she wanted to stop with her ears pricked going down the back straight so Paul (Townend, on Kargese) went on which suited us grand, as it made for a good test of stamina. "I thought it was a good performance and she has a big heart. I ran her in a Grade 1 last season which knocked the edge off her at the end of the season, but she has black-type now so it is great. “Today's race wasn't really the plan but, after winning recently, we stuck her in and then decided that we had to take our chance. "We'll go home and look at the book, but she deserves a little break now having had two quick runs. It is a long way to go before assessing possible Cheltenham options and a lot of water has to pass under the bridge before then." Paddy Power made the winner a 10/1 shot (from 16/1) for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham. (Quotes by Tom Weekes)
