14:39
Barberstown Castle Steeplechase (Grade 3)
Grade 3, Class 1, 2m, Chase, 4yo+, €33,000, 4 runners
Winning time 3m 55.60s
- Going
- Good To Yielding
- Surface
- Turf
Tip for this race
All today's tips ›Kopek Des Bordes No. 3
Paul Townend · W. P. Mullins
✓ Top rated ✓ Distance winner ✓ Trainer in form (6/18, 14 days)
Kopek Des Bordes is our selection and looks the one to beat on our figures, with a rating of 159 putting him 10 lb ahead of Irish Panther on 149, a gap that should count for plenty over two miles at Naas. Irish Panther is the chief danger, with Westport Cove on 146 and Bowensonfire on 142 also needing to be respected in a compact five-runner field, while Rockstown Girl on 108 looks out of her depth. The rating advantage gives Kopek Des Bordes the clearest path to success, even if confidence is only low, and he gets the vote.
Result
Kieren Buckley
Eddie & Patrick Harty
Raced second behind the pace-setter - pulled hard early - minor error 3 out - hit the front approaching 2 out - bounded away before the last cruising - kept on strongly with rider barely moving on run-in - won easily
Paul Townend
W. P. Mullins
sat 3rd early - jumped scrappily at the 2nd - moved up to 2nd then blundered 2 out - urged by rider but couldn't get near winner at the last - ran on at one speed in the final furlong to finish 2nd
Sean O'Keeffe
W. P. Mullins
Made all in front - niggled at turning in - overhauled approaching 2 out and dropped to 3rd - soon well held by the front pair and finished 3rd
Josh Williamson
A. McCann
Rear throughout - struggling to go the gallop from the 3rd - no headway from 4 out and tailed off to finish 4th
Non-runners: Bowensonfire
Racecard
Sean O'Keeffe
W. P. Mullins 6/18
Westport Cove won three of his last five starts, including a win two starts back and another three starts back, and has run over today's trip and going before. The big risk is a 317-day absence and an eighth last time out, with 164 lb to carry.
- Sire
- Muhtathir (GB)
- Dam
- Reine Pieuse (FR) by Saint Des Saints
- Owner
- Cathal Hughes
- Foaled
- 26 Feb 2018
- Stable
- Muine Bheag, Co Carlow
- Trainer last 14 days
- 6 wins from 18 runs (33%)
- Trainer running to form
- 53%
- Ratings
- Perf 146
Kieren Buckley
Eddie & Patrick Harty 1/7
Irish Panther counts two wins in his last five starts and was second last time out, while he has also run over today's trip and on this going. The one worry is a 192-day layoff, and he carries 155 lb.
- Sire
- Lucarno (USA)
- Dam
- Tyrana (GER) by Acatenango
- Owner
- Jennifer Coyle Brian P Whelan
- Foaled
- 11 Mar 2017
- Stable
- Curragh, Co Kildare
- Trainer last 14 days
- 1 wins from 7 runs (14%)
- Trainer running to form
- 19%
- Ratings
- Perf 149
Paul Townend
W. P. Mullins 6/18
Kopek Des Bordes steps up as the one to beat, having won three starts back and been second two starts back, with a fourth four starts back, and he has run over today's trip. The fall last time and a 192-day absence are reservations, but our rating of 159 ranks him top of five.
- Sire
- No Risk At All (FR)
- Dam
- Miss Berry (FR) by Cadoudal
- Owner
- Monabeg Investments Limited
- Foaled
- 4 Feb 2020
- Stable
- Muine Bheag, Co Carlow
- Trainer last 14 days
- 6 wins from 18 runs (33%)
- Trainer running to form
- 53%
- Ratings
- Perf 159
Jack Kennedy
Gordon Elliott 8/46
Bowensonfire counts as a leading danger, a winner last time out, 16 days ago, after a third two starts back and another third three starts back, and he has run over today's trip and going. The main risk is the 151 lb he carries off an official mark of 137.
- Sire
- Gemix (FR)
- Dam
- Amulet (FR) by Lauro
- Owner
- Ktda Racing
- Foaled
- 10 May 2020
- Stable
- Longwood, Co Meath
- Trainer last 14 days
- 8 wins from 46 runs (17%)
- Trainer running to form
- 39%
- Ratings
- Perf 142
Josh Williamson
A. McCann 0/8
Rockstown Girl was pulled up last time out and is winless in her last six, which makes her hard to fancy, though a second two starts back shows she can run well. She has run over today's trip and going, but 144 lb is a big ask, and our figures rank her last of five.
- Sire
- Iffraaj (GB)
- Dam
- Miss Marina Bay (GB) by Galileo
- Owner
- Kenneth James Farmer
- Foaled
- 26 Jan 2018
- Stable
- Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 8 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 25%
- Ratings
- Perf 109
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.