'I wonder if Paul is on the wrong one' - Willie Mullins saddles two for Grade 3

Sunday: 2.00 Naas
BetVictor Chase (Grade 3) | 2m | 5yo+ | RTV

Only four go to post for the race registered as the Newlands Chase, but this has the makings of an entertaining clash between rivals rated 160, 156, 154 and 150.

Captain Guinness has the highest mark and represents Henry de Bromhead, who has won this in its current guise on four occasions – more than any other trainer.

A 7lb penalty complicates matters for this season's Tingle Creek third and the best of his form has been on better ground than he will encounter on Sunday.

Captain Guinness: must concede 7lb to all rivals at Naas on SundayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Last year's Arkle third is still only a seven-year-old – at least two years younger than his rivals – and won the Grade 3 Poplar Square Chase over this course and distance in November. He is operating in calmer waters than last time when he took on Chacun Pour Soi at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Blackbow, one of two runners for Willie Mullins, has always looked talented but he has won on just one of his 11 starts over hurdles and fences. He is rated 2lb higher than stablemate Cash Back, but Paul Townend has opted to partner the latter and there is seemingly very little between the two.

Cash Back has fallen on three of his eight starts over fences and was let down by his jumping last time behind Chacun Pour Soi at Leopardstown.

Darasso: no back number in the Grade 3 BetVictor ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Darasso is the worst treated of the four under these conditions and turns out just eight days after a respectable second to Teahupoo in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran, but a bold bid can be expected from the admirable campaigner.

His 13 starts in Listed or Graded races in Ireland with eight or fewer runners have yielded four wins, five seconds and two thirds, so this sort of test should be right up his street.

What they say

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Captain Guinness
He's won at Naas before and seems in be in good form. He'd possibly prefer better ground.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Blackbow and Cash Back
Paul has elected to ride Cash Back but the conditions of the race suit Blackbow. I don't mind which one wins – the small field will suit both – but I do wonder if Paul is on the wrong one. We'll see. I think he's putting a line through Cash Back's last run at Leopardstown where he made a bad mistake at the first. That upset him for the whole race and he’s better than that. We might try different tactics too.

Frank Berry, racing manager to JP McManus, owner of Darasso
He's been very consistent. He's coming back to fences having been hurdling and this looks very competitive. He might have a bit on his plate.

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