16.15
Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1)
- Prize money: £60950.41
- 2m 0f 75y
- 10 runners
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Runners: 10 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: —
Weather: —
Form: 45-339 D
Last run: 49 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 142
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10th 2 |
1st May 2026 Yielding 3m 0f 160y |
12st 0lb |
Promising early in his career for this stable and initially did well for Willie Mullins, winning twice over hurdles and taking fourth in the Supreme Novices'; also placed in good company over fences; has prospered again in points this season; Journey With Me got a better jump at the last to beat him in a hunter chase at Cork last month. |
12/1 |
|
2nd 1 |
6th Apr 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 4f 0y |
12st 0lb |
Promising sort early in his career for this stable and initially did well for Willie Mullins, winning twice over hurdles and taking fourth in the Supreme Novices'; also placed in good company over fences; has prospered again in points this season and looks the part here. |
15/8 |
|
5th 1 |
2nd Nov 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 4f 0y |
11st 0lb |
Rated 142; smart form over hurdles for Willie Mullins including a fourth in the Supreme; solid efforts in first two beginners' chases at Fairyhouse last season before soundly beaten in Grade 2 novice handicap back at Cheltenham in March; has since left Willie Mullins; capable of going well if fit for return in first-time tongue tie. |
9/2 |
Form: -17312 D
Last run: 26 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
25th Apr 2026 Good 1m 7f 99y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Has proved difficult to place since last win in March 2025 and form has taken a downturn of late; has the worst chance at the weights back up in class. |
66/1 |
|
13th 3 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 176y Class 1 |
11st 13lb |
Pulled up in Ascot handicap in November and tailed off on sole outing since in the Champion Chase last month; it's hard to say what sort of form he's in but this C&D brought out the very best in him when runner-up in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices' Chase (good) 12 months ago; could go well back here. |
16/1 |
|
8th 1 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Lacked fluency and ran poorly at Ascot when last seen; ran creditably in C&D handicap the time before but that form is a long way below Champion Chase standard and he's comfortably held by Majborough on Punchestown festival running; has the worst chance on ratings. |
125/1 |
Form: 1-1131 C
Last run: 28 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 159
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Unproven at this trip and reportedly never travelling when pulled up in the Ryanair at Cheltenham last month; however, he's won at this meeting in each of the last two seasons, landing the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase last April (2m4f, good to soft; Jango Baie third), and he produced a top performance in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park this February; could bounce back with big run for last year's winning trainer Willie Mullins. |
7/2 |
|
5 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
A fine hurdler whose three Grade 1 wins included the Ballymore at this meeting in 2023; has reached the same standard over fences, winning at the top level at Aintree (about 2m4f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) last April, and he was ultimately quite convincing in a tactical race at Gowran (about 2m3f, heavy) last month; his form doesn't yet match that of stablemate Fact To File but he is considered for a place. |
7/1 |
Form: 3P1221 D
Last run: 50 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 142
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 16 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 4lb |
Better over fences; stays 2m5f; had wind surgery prior to the latest Cheltenham Festival (2m, good) where he very nearly recorded a second success in the Grand Annual; not guaranteed to transfer the form back to hurdles but he is attractively treated off a much lower mark in this sphere. |
9/1 |
|
2nd 8 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
8lb higher than when winning this last year (good to soft) and his subsequent form (chiefly over hurdles) hasn't been at the same level; however, he's had a wind op since last time and his 2-2 record at the Cheltenham Festival (also won the Fred Winter in 2023) means he's firmly in calculations. |
7/1 |
|
6th 2 |
18th Jan 2026 Yielding 1m 7f 168y |
11st 11lb |
Five-time winner, including wins in the Fred Winter and last season's Grand Annual; generally below since, beaten 26l in the Galway Plate; respectable effort back over hurdles at Cheltenham last time when a 12.5l fifth of 20; took the runner-up spot in this race last year from 1lb lower, so not ruled out. |
5/1 |
Form: 142 D
Last run: 61 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 143
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 2 |
1st May 2025 Yielding 2m 0f 75y |
11st 12lb |
Physically imposing sort; placed twice in point-to-points; caused major upset with 150-1 Leopardstown beginners' win (2m1f, good to yielding) on rules debut in December; set a tough task in the Irish Arkle at the DRF but ran respectable in the circumstances; no match for Champ Kiely when runner-up in Navan Grade 3 over 2m in March; unlikely winner. |
18/1 |
|
6th 2 |
1st May 2025 Yielding 2m 0f 75y |
11st 12lb |
Physically imposing sort; placed twice in point-to-points; caused major upset with 150-1 Leopardstown beginners' win (2m1f, good to yielding) on rules debut in December; set a tough task in the Irish Arkle at the DRF but ran respectable in the circumstances; no match for Champ Kiely when runner-up in Navan Grade 3 over 2m in March; unlikely winner. |
18/1 |
Form: 2-8313 D
Last run: 179 days
W: 11st 12lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 144
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 5 |
1st Jun 2026 Yielding 2m 3f 0y |
11st 2lb |
Five-time hurdle winner who is 1-9 over fences, though was runner-up in last summer's Galway Plate; all the sharper for his comeback run when beaten 4l in a 2m4f Grade 3 at Killarney three weeks ago and he's a player on these terms. |
5/2 |
|
3rd 3 |
11th May 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 4f 100y |
11st 0lb |
Five-time hurdle winner who is 1-8 over fences, though was runner-up in last summer's Galway Plate; his below-par run in a Grade 3 handicap only 12 days ago (after a lengthy break) dampens enthusiasm. |
4/1 |
|
5th 2 |
29th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 80y |
11st 12lb |
Versatile 10yo won Grade 3 over hurdles last summer before finishing fine second in 2m6f Galway Plate off 148; absent since runner-up over hurdles at Tipperary in October, so may need this although ground in his favour. |
12/1 |
Form: 31-113 D BF
Last run: 51 days
W: 11st 12lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 162
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
4-8 over fences; has a massive engine and has won three Grade 1s over fences, including when giving Marine Nationale a 19l beating in first-time cheekpieces at the DRF; however, his jumping is often erratic and the cheekpieces weren't as effective when he again jumped poorly when soundly beaten in the Champion Chase; obvious chance if he jumps well but hard to know what to expect; a risky proposition. |
9/4 |
|
7th 8 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Talented youngster who triumphed in the Triumph at this meeting in 2024 and shaped like the best horse when close third in last year's Arkle, which he would likely have won but for late mistakes that included a howler two out; again lacked fluency when beaten twice in December but took very well to first-time cheekpieces and jumped better on his way to a highly impressive performance in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown (2m1f, soft) since, beating 2025 Champion Chase winner Marine Nationale by 19l; good chance of following up in the retained headgear, provided the form is confirmed and a reversion to errors is avoided. |
5/6 |
|
1st 3 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 1f 0y |
11st 12lb |
The 2024 Triumph Hurdle winner turned into a top-class novice chaser last season, winning Grade 1s over C&D and at Punchestown; however, he had jumping frailties too and they resurfaced on return at Cork behind Found A Fifty; a decent effort back over C&D last time but has ground to make up on Solness and Marine National on that form; cheekpieces added. |
15/8 |
Form: 11F215 D
Last run: 28 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 3 |
25th Apr 2026 Good 2m 5f 110y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Form dipped in Cheltenham Festival handicap returned to fences last time; multiple Grade 2 winner but has raced mostly at about 2m and isn't crying out for this step back up in trip; first go beyond a sharp 2m4f. |
14/1 |
|
3 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Listed/Grade 2 wins over hurdles this term; goes back over fences for the first time since last May and he's 1-5 in this sphere, the win coming in a Grade 2 novice last February; sixth of 15 off this mark in the Scottish Champion Hurdle in April 2024 when he last tackled a handicap; may be vulnerable. |
16/1 |
|
2nd 1 |
14th Feb 2026 Heavy 1m 7f 50y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Front-runner who is 2-3 since returned to hurdles from fences, winning races at Kempton (Listed) and Wincanton (Elite Hurdle) that he also took in 2023 and 2024; held in a 9l third at Kempton on Boxing Day but that was behind Sir Gino in a Grade 1 and he's strongly respected on this drop back in class; most of his wins have been on good ground but he's effective on soft. |
7/4 |
Form: 8P-22P C BF
Last run: 84 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 4 |
14th Jan 2026 Yielding 2m 1f 30y |
11st 3lb |
Dual winner over hurdles, including in Listed company as a novice; fine efforts on first two novice chase starts last season but twice pulled up afterwards; strong favourite on seasonal return in late October but below-form second to a clear winner in 2m Wexford conditions event; jumped poorly and generally below-par in a Navan handicap last month. |
10/1 |
|
2nd 10 |
27th Oct 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Talented sort is a dual winner over hurdles including in Listed company as a novice; cracking efforts on first two novice chase starts last season including a second to Majborough; however, he has questions to answer after being pulled-up twice since, though his chasing experience will be an asset. |
9/4 |
|
2nd 10 |
27th Oct 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Talented sort is a dual winner over hurdles including in Listed company as a novice; cracking efforts on first two novice chase starts last season including a second to Majborough; however, he has questions to answer after being pulled-up twice since, though his chasing experience will be an asset. |
9/4 |
Form: 3-1112 D
Last run: 51 days
W: 11st 5lb
7 yo Mare
OR: 150
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 4 |
1st May 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 55y |
11st 3lb |
Last year's Arkle runner-up is 4-8 over fences; won a Naas Grade 3 on her seasonal return in November; disappointed in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown a month later but back on song when chasing Dinoblue home in the Mares' Chase at Cheltenham; big player again here. |
9/4 |
|
2nd 4 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Runner-up in the Arkle here (2m, good to soft) 12 months ago and returned from a break with a game win Grade 3 against males at Naas (2m, soft) in November; unproven at today's trip and well beaten in Grade 1 against males at Leopardstown (2m1f, yielding) in December, but was badly hampered at the second fence; has an each-way shout if seeing out the distance. |
7/1 |
|
2nd 6 |
1st May 2025 Yielding 2m 0f 75y |
11st 5lb |
Progressive mare whose record of 3-4 since switched to chasing features wins in Cork Grade 2 and Exeter Listed event, both against her own sex; belied her 25-1 odds with excellent second in dramatic Arkle most recently, edging ahead and looking the likely winner on the run-in only to be collared by the fast-finishing winner close home; had Majborough behind on that occasion but she might be reliant on the Mullins runner to falter in the jumping department again. |
3/1 |
Betting Forcast
Asian Master, Brookie, Impaire Et Passe, Jazzy Matty, Jeannot Lapin, Jesse Evans, Majborough, Rubaud, Tullyhill, Only By Night