Impervious, near side, locked together with Journey With Me over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Impervious confirmed her class by maintaining an unbeaten record over fences in the Group 3 Madigan Group Novice Chase in Punchestown.
She was the sole mare in the field and had to give 1lb in weight to all the geldings as she landed a Group 2 mares' novice in Cork on her last start.
Colm Murphy 's star mare stalked Journey With Me and Ha D'or and made progress at the second last.
She came through with her challenge on Journey With Me at the final fence with the pair jumping it virtually in unison. It boiled down to a battle on the run-in and it was Impervious, recently acquired by JP McManus, who came home the stronger in the closing stages to earn victory by half a length at 3/1. The runner-up went off 9/4 joint favourite.
“I'm delighted with that,” said Murphy.
“It was a tall order giving weight to those boys. It was probably a little tiny worry running her on heavy ground too, but she's answered a lot of questions. We can make more plans now.
“She's one of those, she wears her heart on her sleeve and she gives everything.”
When asked if she'd go straight to the Mares' Chase at Cheltenham he added: “Without talking to the lads, I'm guessing so. I'll have a word with Frank (Berry) and JP and see then.
“She seems to be improving and, especially with those fillies, when they start improving you don't know where they'll end up, but I do know it's nice to have her.”
Impervious is three from three over fences and was a Grade 3 mares' novices' hurdle winner over the smaller obstacles.
Paddy Power cut Impervious from 3/1 to 6/4 for the Mares' Chase at Cheltenham.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
