2027 Mares’ Chase

The Mares Chase made it's debut at the Cheltenham Festival 2021. It takes place on the fourth day, Gold Cup day, is sponsored by Paddy Power and is listed as The Liberthine Mares' Chase.

Discussions were held with stakeholders to decide which race the new Mares Chase would replace. In the end, it was the Listed Novices’ Handicap Chase, which was traditionally run on the opening day.

Despite being taken out of the festival, that race will now be staged at Sandown Park as part of the Imperial Cup meeting just days before The Festival.

With the plan to run the Mares’ Chase on Gold Cup day, the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase was moved to Wednesday and the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle was moved to the opening day.

PRIZE MONEY

For the very first running of the Mares Chase in 2021, the total prize fund was £90,000. From that, winning connections of Colreevy took home £50,643.

Like all races at the 2021 Festival, the prize money was reduced due to racing being held behind closed doors.

By 2022, it had been restored to its full value. Elimay won the race for jockey Mark Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins. Connections took home £67,582.28 for the win.

For 2023, the total money in the pot remained the same, with the winner, Impervious from trainer Colm Murphy, taking home £67,524.

FAMOUS WINNERS

2021 was the first-ever Mares Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. It was introduced as another positive step in the efforts being made to encourage owners and trainers to continue to enhance the population of quality jumping mares.

Legendary jockey Ruby Walsh said: "The Mares’ Chase will prove a great addition to The Festival, especially when it beds in over a three or four-year period.

"Jumps horses rarely have a financial value when they finish racing but for owners who are lucky enough to have a good mare, they can be worth a considerable amount as brood mares and thus owners get some return on their investment.

“Therefore the need for mares-only races is paramount for the value of unraced fillies, to encourage owners to buy them as racehorses.

"Having the Mares’ Chase to go along with the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle adds to the attraction of purchasing a filly.

"Cheltenham are showing their support to the breeding industry by adding this race and in my opinion showing a loyalty to the whole horseracing industry and not just the sport.”

Making their way way into the history books as the first ever winners were jockey Paul Townend on board Colreevy for trainer Willie Mullins. Mullins also trained the runner up - Elimay.

In total, there were 11 runners, and the winning time was 5m 16.25s.

Willie Mullins is the leading trainer with four wins, including Dinoblue in 2025 and 2026.

RACE RECORDS

As the Mares Chase has only taken place twice, there are no real records to talk about.

The only winning trainers are Willie Mullins, Colm Murphy, and Gavin Cromwell. The winning jockeys are Paul Townend, Mark Walsh, Keith Donoghue, and Brian Hayes.