Sunday tips: Look out for Champion Chase clues at Naas

The Barberstown Castle Chase may only boast Grade Three status but underestimate its relevance at your peril.

Quilixios and Marine Nationale finished 1-2 in last year’s edition, and they were fighting out the finish of the Champion Chase at Cheltenham, four months later, when the former came down at the final fence. That left Marine Nationale to come home an easy winner.

Dinoblue took the spoils in 2024 before going on to finish second in the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham, and then go one better in that contest this year. And the 2021 victor was Captain Guinness, who would also go on to Champion Chase glory.

Here’s a guide to Sunday’s field of five, with a predicted finishing order. 

Timeform rating: 173. RaceiQ Jump Index: -- (scores of 8.1 and 6.1). Odds: 7-4.

The lightly raced eight-year-old has clearly not been easy to train, managing only three runs in his first two seasons over fences. He got to the racecourse only twice last term after just one outing the campaign before.

That’s a huge pity as this Grade One-winning novice hurdler looked potentially top drawer when dishing out a 15-length drubbing to Farren Glory in a beginners’ chase at Wexford this time last year. We only saw him once afterwards, when he did not jump nearly so well and finished a dozen lengths third to Ile Atlantique here in early January.

This looks an ideal starting point as he now meets that rival on 9lb better terms with his batteries refreshed and his yard (23 winners from 68 runners since October) in fabulous form. 

Timeform rating: 163+. RaceiQ Jump Index: 7.5. Odds: 100-30. 

Ile Atlantique is unbeaten in three starts outside of Grade One company but has found various way to get beaten in all seven of his outings at the highest level.

His best effort over hurdles came at this track when beaten a neck in the 2024 edition of the Lawlor’s Of Naas, while he also impressed here when beating Firefox and Inthepocket in a Grade Two novice chase over course and distance at the start of the year.

That suggested big days ahead, but he then ran miserably at the Dublin Racing Festival before being let down by his jumping over longer trips at Fairyhouse and Punchestown. Connections cannot seem to settle on what his optimum trip is, but he has never looked short of pace. Paul Townend instead rides Champ Kiely, which means he’s probably a bigger price than he should be on form. 

Timeform rating: 166. RaceiQ Jump Index: 7.4. Odds: 11-2. 

She was inferior to her main rivals here over hurdles – she is rated 125 in that sphere – but took well to chasing last term, reeling off successive wins at Tipperary, Cork and Exeter before an agonising near miss in the Arkle, when she had victory in her grasp only to be nabbed in the final strides by Jango Baie. You could not call her unlucky as Majborough would surely have beaten them all that day but for a bad blunder two out, and he went a long way to confirming that when subsequently turning the tables in emphatic fashion at Punchestown. Only By Night could have more to offer but, if this was a handicap, she would be 5lb better off with Ile Atlantique and 9lb better in with Inthepocket. 

Timeform rating: 165. RaceiQ Jump Index: 8.1. Odds: 5-2. 

Had some big names behind him when winning the 2m4f Grade One Lawlor’s Of Naas Novices’ Hurdle here a couple of years ago, before going to on to finish third behind Impaire Et Passe and Ballyburn at Cheltenham. Returned from 20 months off to have a mixed time over fences last season, saving his best for last when upstaging stablemate Ballyburn at the highest level at Punchestown over 3m1f. Goes well fresh but it’s hard to believe 2m will show him to best advantage and he's got to concede between 4lb and 13lb to each of his rivals. 

 Timeform rating: 144§. RaceiQ Jump Index: 7.5. Odds: 125-1. 

The most exposed runner in the line-up has a mountain to climb at the weights, having about 2st to find with Inthepocket. Is surely just hoping he can pick up some appearance money.