BetVictor Grade Three Naas Chase Guide 2022

Andy Smith | @AndySmithRacing

Naas - February 27 2022
Naas 14:00
3
Paul Townend

Cash Back

J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
N/A
Age: 10
Weight: 11-1
OR: 154
Days: 21

A 10 year old for Willie Mullins, Cash Back started life over in France but failed to win in his 2 hurdle starts over there. Despite a massive lay off, he moved to Mullins’ yard and got off the mark at the first time of asking over hurdles. 

Failing to win in his last two runs over hurdles connections quickly went chasing with him and he shaped with plenty of promise in his novice season over fences. Winning his first two starts before a narrow 2nd place in the Irish Arkle. 
A series of falls followed however.

Failing to complete in three consecutive starts saw him have a year away from racing and come back last December.

However his only win this season has come over 2.5 miles over hurdles. Unable to get close to Energumene on reappearance, he was soundly beat by Chacun Pour Soi in the Dublin Chase last time out. 

His novice form stands him in good stead but his shaky record over fences makes him hard to trust. 

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
29/01/23NAA15.5Sft11-32
12/11/22NAA20Y/Sft11-1113
17/04/22COR16Hy11-02
27/02/22NAA16Sft11-13
06/02/22LEO17Y11-124
Naas - February 27 2022
Naas 14:00
2
Danny Mullins

Blackbow

J: Danny Mullins
T: W P Mullins
N/A
Age: 9
Weight: 11-1
OR: 156
Days: 21

Another one for Willie Mullins. Blackbow failed to score in novice hurdles after showing plenty of promise as a bumper horse the prior season. 

Beaten at odds on in all four of his maiden hurdle starts, Blackbow switched to fences and got off the mark at the first time of asking.

However that remains the 9 year olds only win under rules over obstacles as he’s failed to replicate that kind of form since. Proving no match for Energumene, he went up in trip for his run at Cheltenham but was a well beaten 6th in the Marsh Chase behind Chantry House. 

This season has seen him take to handicaps and he went off a short priced favourite for a grade A handicap at Fairyhouse.

Almost defying a mark of 151, he was just seen off by the in form Dunvegan. A 5lbs rise of the back of that seemingly had his number and going back up in trip didn’t look to suit last time out. 

Coming back down to 2 miles will be ideal and this should be his sort of level. 

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
22/03/22CLO20Sft11-81
27/02/22NAA16Sft11-12
06/02/22LEO21.5Y11-95
09/01/22FAI17Sft11-52
18/03/21CHL20GS11-46
Naas - February 27 2022
Naas 14:00
1
Rachael Blackmore

Captain Guinness

J: Rachael Blackmore
T: Henry De Bromhead
N/A
Age: 7
Weight: 11-8
OR: 160
Days: 21

Another for Henry De Bromhead is 7 year old Captain Guinness. The headstrong gelding only made three appearances over hurdles.

Winning a maiden hurdle, coming a narrow 2nd in the Moscow Flyer to Andy Dufresne and finally being brought down in the Supreme when travelling really well. 

Life over fences hasn’t exactly gone to plan considering all the promise he showed as a novice hurdler. Pulled up on chase debut as a short priced favourite, he got off the mark at the second time of asking over fences but that remained his only win as a novice chaser.

Failing to complete twice and being easily brushed aside in the Arkle by Shishkin. 

Despite easily winning a Grade 3 on reappearance beating Andy Dufresne, he’s struggled to land a blow in Grade 1 company since.

A solid 3rd in the Tingle Creek and a 3rd in the Dublin Chase were both good runs without him truly threatening. 

Dropping back in grade should help this course and distance winner. 

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
15/03/23CHL16Sft11-102
27/12/22LEO17Y11-122
13/11/22NAV16Y11-101
26/04/22PUN16Gd/Y11-124
08/04/22AIN20GS11-76
Naas - February 27 2022
Naas 14:00
4

Darasso

J:
T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
N/A
Age: 9
Weight: 11-1
OR: 150
Days: 8

Starting life over in France, Durasso won listed events over hurdles and picked up a couple of victories over fences during his time south of the channel before moving to Joseph O’Brien. 

Winning a Grade 3 hurdle and a Grade 2 chase over 2 miles showed his diversity for his new connections in his first season over in Ireland.

But he struggled subsequently and went nearly 2 years before notching another win. Moving up to 2.5 miles brought about some improvement and he quickly notched up a brace of wins over both obstacles. 

Darasso has been in decent form again this season winning the Lismullen Hurdle when Flooring Porter fell 2 out. No match for Honeysuckle in the Hattons Grace, he did win the Limestone Lad Hurdle. 

He’s had a busy campaign and might just be starting to feel one too many runs. 

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
29/01/23NAA15.5Sft11-125
01/12/22THU22Y11-41
17/11/22CLO20.5Sft/Hy11-33
21/09/22LIS24Gd11-13
27/07/22GAL22.5Gd11-02