Barberstown Castle Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 4m 14.6s

Fil Dor^t²¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 150| D

5/1

Smart hurdler/chaser. Ended last season on a low note and the chances are even a return to his very best won't be quite good enough here.

Form: 135106-

Panda Boy³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Slevin| T: M Brassil| OR: 140

25/1

Useful chaser. 11/4, 18¾ lengths fourth of 5 to Minella Indo in Grade 3 chase at Punchestown (23.3f, good to soft) on reappearance 32 days ago. Significantly down in trip. Something to find.

Form: 443F5-4

Sir Gerhard²⁰¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155| D

15/8

Leading novice hurdler of 2021/22 campaign and a smart novice chase, finishing second in a Fairyhouse Grade 1 in April. Pulled up at Punchestown later that month but can bounce back and provide the chief threat to his stablemate.

Form: 13/192P-

Dinoblue¹⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155| D

5/6

Produced a really smart performance when rounding of an excellent first campaign over fences with a win in a 2m handicap at the Punchestown Festival in April. That suggests she's more than capable of winning at Graded level.

Form: 122211-

Hope Des Blins²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Danny Mullins| T: J P Ryan| OR: 116| D

200/1

Fair chaser. Latest win in chase at Sligo in September. 9/2, fifth of 7 in handicap chase at Limerick (19f, heavy) 21 days ago.

Form: F03315

Forecasts

Dinoblue (5/6), Sir Gerhard (15/8), Fil Dor (5/1), Panda Boy (25/1), Hope Des Blins (200/1)

Willie Mullins should dominate this. The level DINOBLUE achieved when landing a well-contested handicap at the Punchestown Festival in April suggests she can make her mark in Graded company this season and she's preferred to Sir Gerhard.