Barberstown Castle Chase Tips for Naas on Sunday There's some good quality racing from Naas on Sunday afternoon with the highlight being the Grade 3 Barberstown Castle Chase over two-miles. A field of five runners were declared for the €22,000 prize with Willie Mullins, Gavin Cromwell and Henry de Bromhead all represented. Here's our look at the five contenders and a tip for the Naas contest. Runner-by-Runner Guide Champ Kiely The first of two contenders for Willie Mullins, he has at times in his career been something of a tearaway, but he won 3-5 when sent chasing last season, including the Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown in the spring on his first go beyond three miles. He has won over the minimum trip in his hurdles career and a Grade 3 at Navan in March over fences and he could prove a major player despite dropping right back in trip. Ile Atlantique The second Closutton contender. He was 2-2 over fences when he landed the Grade 2 Racing Post Novice Chase over this course and distance in January. He lost his way in a trio of spring Grade 1s, with an unseat and a fall at Fairyhouse and Punchestown most recently. He goes well fresh (3-3 on seasonal return) and shouldn't be overlooked in any great haste. Only By Night Gavin Cromwell's mare won her first three over fences before going down less than a length when second in the Arkle at Cheltenham in March. She backed that up with a sound second behind top-class Majborough at Punchestown and there could be plenty more to come from her in this second season chasing having been snapped up by owners Robcour over the summer months. Gaelic Arc John Ryan's contender has plenty to find on official ratings with his quartet of rivals and has won only two of his 26 starts over fences. He was tailed off at Limerick in a handicap chase off a mark of 125 last month and he will require ill-fate to befall these rivals to have a major say in the outcome. Inthepocket A Grade 1-winning novice over hurdles at Aintree in April 2023, he opened his account over fences at the second time of asking in a Wexford beginners contest in October last year after a 345-day absence. He has been absent since finishing a well-held third behind Ila Atlantique over C&D in January, with a setback ending last season prematurely, but he is capable when fresh and clearly has plenty of talent. Verdict: Willie Mullins has farmed the Barberstown Castle Chase over the last decade and is going for his 11th win on the bounce. Champ Kiely ended last season as a stylish Grade 1 scorer, but that was over 3m1f and he drops right back now, while Ila Atlantique lost his way in the spring. Inthepocket is very talented and it remains early days over fences, but he has had some setbacks and could be best watched for now. The mare ONLY BY NIGHT gets weight from the Mullins duo and last season's Arkle runner-up is a serious player at this trip. She was no match for an in-form Majborough at Punchestow, but accounted for the remainder and it would be hard to make a case for either of Mullins’ duo landing a blow when he's in full flow. Keith Donoghue's mare goes really well fresh and, at this trip, might well be the answer to end Mullins' domination of this Naas Grade 3.
