Barberstown Castle Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 3m 57.9s

Hercule Du Seuil^h,t¹⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| D

10/3

Smart chaser. 11/1, 5¾ lengths third of 4 to Il Etait Temps in Barberstown Castle Novices' Chase (Colliers) at Punchestown (16.3f, good to soft). Off 6 months but needs considering.

Form: 111143-

Lucid Dreams⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: D E Mullins| T: J P Ryan| OR: 142| D

22/1

Useful chaser. 12¼ lengths third of 5 to Found A Fifty in Skymas Chase at Down Royal (19.6f, good to soft, 6/1) 8 days ago. More is needed here.

Form: 4232-33

Quilixios²¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 146| CD

7/2

C&D winner. 18/1, creditable 12 lengths fifth of 10 to Found A Fifty in Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree (15.8f, soft), going off too hard. Off 7 months but can make his presence felt with yard in good form.

Form: 3/16185-

Marine Nationale^t²⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: B Connell| BF| D

8/11

High-class hurdler/chaser who lost his unbeaten record when fifth of 6 to Il Etait Temps in Irish Arkle Novices' Chase at Leopardstown (17f, soft). Off 9 months but very much the one to beat.

Form: 1111/15-

Miss Gherkin³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Danny Gilligan| T: P Croke| D

125/1

Fair hurdler/chaser who posted a good second of 7 in novice chase (25/1) at Sligo (17.6f, good) 39 days ago. This is a tough ask though.

Form: 11-2592

Forecasts

Marine Nationale (8/11), Hercule Du Seuil (10/3), Quilixios (7/2), Lucid Dreams (22/1), Miss Gherkin (125/1)

Barry Connell's high-class MARINE NATIONALE is fancied to make light of his absence and quickly resume winning ways in this Grade 3 chase at the chief expense of C&D winner Quilixios who represents the in-form Henry de Bromhead team. Hercule du Seuil appeals as the pick of the rest for minor honours.