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17:25 Punchestown

Thursday 1 May 2025

All14:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2518:0018:35

Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 17:25 | Winning time: 4m 5.2s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Brookie^t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 150| D

20/1

Useful sort over hurdles and has advanced his form over fences, winning a pair of 2m handicaps and excellent second to Kalif Du Berlais when stepped up to Grade 1 level at Aintree last month.

Form: -17312

Jeannot Lapin⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| T: G O'Loughlin| OR: 143

28/1

Has rapidly developed into a useful chaser for this yard but he was beaten just under 18 lengths into fourth by Majborough at the Dublin Racing Festival and was defeated by 8 lengths when second in the Grade 3 Flying Bolt at Navan since.

Form: 3P-142

Jesse Evans^t²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| T: N Meade| OR: 144| D

40/1

Showed useful form over fences in the first half of season. Arrives fit from a decent run on the Flat last month but likely to come up a bit short here.

Form: 2-8313

Majborough⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| T: W P Mullins| OR: 162| BF| D

4/11

Last year's Triumph winner who easily won his first 2 chases this season. Lost his unbeaten record over fences in the Arkle at Cheltenham but did well to finish a close third considering he made a couple of late mistakes (notably 2 out). Very hard to beat if he can eliminate the errors.

Form: 31-113

Rubaud²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 148| D

9/1

Smart hurdler, winning first 2 starts this season. Quickly reached same level over fences with a second to L'Eau Du Sud at Warwick and win in Grade 2 Pendil at Kempton in February but he could only manage a well-held fifth in the 2½m Grade 1 novice at Aintree. Back down in trip now.

Form: 11F215

Only By Night⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 150| D

5/1

Has made an excellent start to her chase career, landing a Cork Grade 2 and Exeter listed race. Improved again when second (Majborough a short head back in third) in the Arkle at Cheltenham in March. Should go well again.

Form: 3-1112

Forecasts

Majborough (4/11), Only By Night (5/1), Rubaud (9/1), Brookie (20/1), Jeannot Lapin (28/1), Jesse Evans (40/1)

MAJBOROUGH did very well to rally for a close third in the Arkle at Cheltenham after a mistake two out which would have finished off the majority of horses. If he can avoid that sort of error this time he should be able to reverse Cheltenham placings with Only By Night and provide Willie Mullins with a remarkable tenth successive win in this Grade 1.