16:00 Naas (IRE) 07 Feb 2026
BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase
Listed | Class 1 | 5YO plus
Winner €15,000 - 6 declared to run
Hurdle: soft to heavy-heavy in places; chase: heavy-soft to heavy in places
Draw Advantage: None
Forecast: Light rain
Temperature: 5.8° - 9.4°
Rainfall: 0.71mm
Wind: 6.9 mph E
Last Update: 06/02/2026 17:00x
- Winner
- Top 2 Finish
- Top 3 Finish
- W/O Bioluminescence And Dinoblue
- W/O Bioluminescence
- W/O Dinoblue
- Top 4 Finish
Bookies best price percentage = 110.60%
AT THE RACES is not liable for any services or information offered or provided by its bookmaker partners. Please note: Whilst every effort is made to ensure odds and information are up to date and correct, differences between these and actual odds/information available from bookmakers at time of placing a bet may occur.
Travelled but did not find much and may not have stayed when well beaten in the Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree last time. Off a short break, effective at 2m4f-3m, suited by plenty of cut, but has been inconsistent of late.
She has won two hurdle races, a chase and a point-to-point from 2m 4f to 3m on heavy and yielding - soft ground. Well beaten at 17-2 behind Twig when eighth of 13 on her latest outing in a chase at Aintree over 3m 2f (soft) in December last year.
Travelled but did not find much and may not have stayed when well beaten in the Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree last time. Off a short break, effective at 2m4f-3m, suited by plenty of cut, but has been inconsistent of late.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 10 | 3 | 3 | 30% | |
| Chase | 6 | 1 | 2 | 16.7% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| C | Course | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| D | Distance | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| G | Similar Going | 11 | 3 | 4 | 27.3% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 12 | 4 | 4 | 33.3% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 1 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 25% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Keith Donoghue | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| T | G P Cromwell | 12 | 4 | 4 | 33.3% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Won this race last year and jumped well, travelling strongly when winning the Yellowford & Drumlin John & Chich Fowler Memorial Irish EBF Mares Chase at Fairyhouse by 7l last time. Effective at 2m-2m6f and consistent, she should win this.
Has won a hurdle race and nine chases from 2m to 2m 6f on ground varying from good to soft to yielding - soft. Won on her latest outing in a Grade 3 chase when 1-4fav in the Group 3 John Shecouldbeanything Chich Fowler Memorial Irish EBF Mares Chase at Fairyhouse over 2m 6f (yielding) last month, beating & by 7l.
Won this race last year and jumped well, travelling strongly when winning the Yellowford & Drumlin John & Chich Fowler Memorial Irish EBF Mares Chase at Fairyhouse by 7l last time. Effective at 2m-2m6f and consistent, she should win this.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 22 | 10 | 8 | 45.5% | |
| Chase | 18 | 9 | 8 | 50% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| CD | Course and Distance | 3 | 2 | 1 | 66.7% |
| C | Course | 3 | 2 | 1 | 66.7% |
| D | Distance | 9 | 4 | 4 | 44.4% |
| G | Similar Going | 22 | 10 | 8 | 45.5% |
| Headgear | |||||
| HG | Today (T only) | 6 | 4 | 1 | 66.7% |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 1 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 33.3% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Mark Walsh | 19 | 9 | 6 | 47.4% |
| T | W P Mullins | 22 | 10 | 8 | 45.5% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
May have found the ground on the soft side when finishing down the field in a handicap chase here most recently. Tongue-tie is applied for the first time; enjoys making it, is effective at 2m-2m3f, but faces a stiff task.
She has won a hurdle race and three chases from 2m to 2m 4f on ground varying from good to yielding. Well beaten at 50-1 behind Rockbrook when last of 9 on her latest outing in a chase over this course and distance (soft) last month.
May have found the ground on the soft side when finishing down the field in a handicap chase here most recently. Tongue-tie is applied for the first time; enjoys making it, is effective at 2m-2m3f, but faces a stiff task.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 28 | 4 | 5 | 14.3% | |
| Chase | 16 | 3 | 3 | 18.8% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Course | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| D | Distance | 8 | 1 | 2 | 12.5% |
| G | Similar Going | 23 | 2 | 4 | 8.7% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (T & H) | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| HG | Hood | 41 | 5 | 8 | 12.2% |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Class 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Shane Fitzgerald | 8 | 2 | 2 | 25% |
| T | G P Cromwell | 39 | 5 | 10 | 12.8% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Outclassed when well beaten in the Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 1) at Leopardstown last time. Effective at 2m-2m4f, she has done well since moving to this yard and should appreciate the drop in grade.
She has won two hurdle races, a chase and a point-to-point from 2m to 3m on ground varying from good to heavy. Well beaten at 50-1 behind Romeo Coolio when seventh of 9 on her latest outing in a Grade 1 chase in the Group 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown over 2m 1f (yielding) in December last year.
Outclassed when well beaten in the Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 1) at Leopardstown last time. Effective at 2m-2m4f, she has done well since moving to this yard and should appreciate the drop in grade.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 14 | 3 | 6 | 21.4% | |
| Chase | 3 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| D | Distance | 8 | 2 | 4 | 25% |
| G | Similar Going | 11 | 2 | 5 | 18.2% |
| Headgear | |||||
| HG | Today (T only) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 20% |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Conor Stone-Walsh | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | Ian Patrick Donoghue | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16.7% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Had every chance and ran to form up in class, just tiring late on when fourth beaten 21l in the Finlay Ford At Naas Novice Chase (Grade 3) here last time. Effective at 2m-3m, progressing over fences but looks up against it.
She has won two hurdle races, a chase and a point-to-point from 2m 3f to 3m on ground varying from soft to soft - heavy. Well beaten at 11-2 when fourth of 8 on her latest outing in a Grade 3 chase here over 3m 1f (heavy) last month.
Had every chance and ran to form up in class, just tiring late on when fourth beaten 21l in the Finlay Ford At Naas Novice Chase (Grade 3) here last time. Effective at 2m-3m, progressing over fences but looks up against it.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 11 | 3 | 2 | 27.3% | |
| Chase | 3 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| C | Course | 2 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| D | Distance | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
| G | Similar Going | 11 | 3 | 3 | 27.3% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 14 | 4 | 3 | 28.6% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Sean Flanagan | 9 | 3 | 1 | 33.3% |
| T | Colin Bowe | 14 | 4 | 3 | 28.6% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Ran to form when 7l third in the Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase (Grade 2) at Limerick most recently. Effective over 2m-2m7f and progressive over fences, she arrives in good heart.
Successful in a hurdle race and a chase at 2m 4f on good - yielding and yielding - soft ground. Third of 7 behind The Big Westerner beaten 7l at 12-1 on her latest outing in a chase at Limerick over 2m 6f (soft - heavy) in December last year.
Ran to form when 7l third in the Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase (Grade 2) at Limerick most recently. Effective over 2m-2m7f and progressive over fences, she arrives in good heart.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 7 | 2 | 2 | 28.6% | |
| Chase | 3 | 1 | 1 | 33.3% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| G | Similar Going | 7 | 2 | 2 | 28.6% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 7 | 2 | 2 | 28.6% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Class 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Simon Torrens | 3 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
| T | J Motherway | 7 | 2 | 2 | 28.6% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Verdict
DINOBLUE looks set to be a short price to repeat last year's success in this Listed contest. Willie Mullins' charge, winner of the Mares Chase at Cheltenham last term, is the one to beat in this division and it would be a surprise if she was turned over. She did have to survive a last fence scare when scoring at Fairyhouse last time but should collect again with a clear round. Bioluminescence is the danger on official ratings but she needs to improve on her last showing in handicap company at Aintree. Break My Soul was outclassed in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown over Christmas but should be able to get closer now.
Expert View Verdict
This should prove straightforward for DINOBLUE, who took this last year en route to winning the mares' chase at the festival. She's versatile in terms of both ground and trip and has upwards of 15lb in hand of all her rivals at these weights. Uhavemeinstitches is only a novice but has already shown useful form and the drop to 2m should suit her ideally. She can follow the favourite home, with this trip surely on the sharp side for Bioluminescence, who was last seen failing to fire in the Becher Chase.
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Previous Winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Soft | 3 | Dinoblue | 8 | 11 9 | - | 122-324 | 43 days | W P Mullins (44 miles) | Mark Walsh | 11/ 10 | 4:17.00 | |
| 2024 | Heavy | 5 | Allegorie De Vassy | 7 | 11 5 | - | 1223-12 | 40 days | W P Mullins (44 miles) | Paul Townend | 5/ 2 | 4:13.30 | |
| 2023 | Yielding | 6 | Magic Daze | 7 | 10 11 | - | 138-122 | 70 days | H De Bromhead (86 miles) | Rachael Blackmore | 9/ 4 | 4:04.02 | |
| 2022 | Soft - Heavy | 5 | Elimay | 8 | 11 0 | - | 2121-32 | 42 days | W P Mullins (44 miles) | Mark Walsh | 2/ 13 | 4:25.00 | |
| 2021 | Soft | 5 | Elimay | 7 | 11 7 | - | 1111-22 | 17 days | W P Mullins (44 miles) | Mark Walsh | 8/ 15 | 4:19.10 | |
| 2020 | Yielding | 5 | Cut The Mustard | 8 | 10 7 | - | 024-612 | 20 days | W P Mullins (44 miles) | Paul Townend | 1/ 3 | 4:11.00 | |
| 2019 | Good - Yielding | 7 | Pravalaguna | 7 | 10 7 | - | 4P41-41 | 42 days | W P Mullins (44 miles) | Paul Townend | 8/ 13 | 4:03.50 | |
| 2018 | Heavy | 6 | Benie Des Dieux | 7 | 11 0 | - | 16331-1 | 69 days | W P Mullins (44 miles) | D J Mullins | EVENS | 4:22.10 | |
| 2017 | Soft | 5 | Slowmotion | 5 | 10 2 | - | 1-52F21 | 34 days | J P O'Brien (60 miles) | Mark Walsh | 9/ 4 | 4:11.80 | |
| 2016 | Soft | 4 | Gitane Du Berlais | 6 | 11 7 | - | 14-7324 | 36 days | W P Mullins (44 miles) | Ruby Walsh | 6/ 5 | 4:24.80 | |
| 2015 | Soft | 4 | Jacksonslady | 10 | 11 0 | - | 175773 | 43 days | J P Dempsey (17 miles) | Mark Walsh | 5/ 2 | 4:03.80 | |
| 2014 | Soft - Heavy | 5 | Avondhu Lady | 9 | 11 3 | - | 23-4331 | 35 days | David Fenton (139 miles) | Mark Enright | 6/ 1 | 4:27.90 |
Race Favourite Stats
| Year | Favourite Finish Position | Winner Market Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 | 1 |
| 2017 | 4 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 | 1 |
Race Record
| Distance | Record Time |
|---|---|
| 2m | 3:48.30 |