MARE HAS THE ANSAR

Unbeaten star won’t be tested

SALSARETTA should retain her unbeaten record over fences in the Grade 2 Charleville EBF Mares Novice Chase, feature of tomorrow’s meeting in Limerick.

Few novices I’ve seen this season have taken as well to fences as this seven-year-old mare, trained for the Riccis by Willie Mullins, inset.

An accomplished hurdler, she has already proven herself even better over the biggest obstacles and should make it four-from-four in tomorrow’s feature.

Salsaretta made her eagerly-awaited debut over the bigger obstacles at Punchestown in November and, jumping solidly, brushed aside the challenge of

Galvin, a good second in the novice handicap at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

She built on that effort over the same course and distance (two and a half miles) on New Year’s Eve, outpointing subsequent Grand National Trial runner-up Agusta Gold.

Last time, faced with a simple task at Thurles, she justified 1/5 favouritism in a mares’ novice in Thurles, coasting home nine lengths clear of Caravation.

Tomorrow, the 148-rated mare must concede 3lb to each of her seven rivals, which include Olly Murphy’s unexposed charge and the Gordon Elliott-trained runner-up to Cut The Mustard in the Opera Hat at Naas last time. But she looks a cut above them.

Following the dramatic win of Burning Victory in the Triumph at Cheltenham yesterday, the Tom Gibney-trained will be all the rage for the opening Follow Limerick On Facebook 4-Y-0 Hurdle, with 113-rated successful at Clonmel recently, likely to follow him home.

Although held on Cork form by Well Set Up, I like the Gordon Elliott-trained in the Grade 3 Kerry Group EBF Shannon Spray Mares Novice Hurdle. The Cheveley Park Studowned mare, who had Cheltenham winner Concertista in fourth when winning her maiden at Fairyhouse, impressed at Leopardstown last time when dictating the pace and slamming Mrs Milner by 10 lengths.

Suited by a demanding test of stamina, she should be tough to pass, if allowed to dictate.

conqueror of unlucky subsequent winner Run For Oscar at Thurles, will be a popular fancy for the Dunraven Arms Hotel Pro-am Flat Race.

But he might struggle to concede 7lb to the Hyde runner,

whose second to ferny Hollow at Fairyhouse took on new significance at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

THREAT Gordon Elliott-trained Tintangle