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2026 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase Preview
One of two Grade 1 races on the third day of the festival is the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase, which was previously sponsored by Ryanair, a race that is open to novice chasers who are aged five or older, and they will have to cope with a total of eleven fences over this two-mile trip.
Barberstown Castle Novice Chase Information:
- Barberstown Castle Novice Chase Past Winners
- Barberstown Castle Novice Chase Trainer Statistics
- Barberstown Castle Novice Chase Jockey Statistics
To see which runners the OLBG racing tipsters are tipping throughout the card that includes this race, head over to the Punchestown tips on the day of the race. Do they agree with the runners on the trend shortlist, or are they predicting other runners? We cover all of the major races at the Punchestown Festival and below you can find links to all of the races for each of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday.
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites 2026
How competitive is the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2011, when the race had an over-round of 105%. The race in 2017 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 120%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase, the over-round has been 113%, which means the bookie expects to pay out ÂŁ100 for every ÂŁ113 which is bet.
Below you will find the 2026 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase Trends. See which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal. We also have a section that looks at the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase Trend Analysis.
These are the top three quickest-run Barberstown Castle Novice Chase races over the last 20 renewals:
- El Fabiolo (3:59.20) in 2023
- Accordion Etoile (4:02.50) in 2006
- Un De Sceaux (4:04.50) in 2015
Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? Over the past 20 renewals, if you had followed the winner of the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase next time out, then you would have backed a total of 11 winners. Backing all 20 runners who have been out since their win at SP next time out would have returned an LSP of +20.11. Whilst we wait for the 2026 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase, remember you can get daily racing predictions from the expert tipsters on the racing predictions page.
The runner that holds the record over the past 20 renewals for the slowest time in the race was set in the 2012 renewal when Lucky William from Thomas Cooper under the guidance of Barry Geraghty, won in a time of 4:35.00, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, El Fabiolo, trained by W P Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend set the quickest time of 3:59.20 in the 2023 renewal.
Barberstown Castle Novice Chase Past Winners
Here are the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the race year, the winning horse, and the horse's age & weight. The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.
| Year | Horse | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 4:05.20 | Majborough (FR) 5yo 11-12 4/11F | Mark Walsh W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2024 4:08.40 | Il Etait Temps (FR) 6yo 11-12 7/2 | Danny Mullins W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2023 3:59.20 | El Fabiolo (FR) 6yo 11-12 1/4F | Paul Townend W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2022 4:05.80 | Blue Lord (FR) 7yo 11-12 2/1F | Paul Townend W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2021 4:12.20 | Energumene (FR) 7yo 11-12 2/5F | Paul Townend W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2019 4:07.00 | Chacun Pour Soi (FR) 7yo 11-10 3/1 | Robbie Power W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2018 4:14.20 | Footpad (FR) 6yo 11-10 2/5F | Daryl Jacob W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2017 4:06.50 | Great Field (FR) 6yo 11-10 9/10F | Jody McGarvey W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2016 4:17.90 | Douvan (FR) 6yo 11-10 2/9F | R Walsh W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2015 4:04.50 | Un De Sceaux (FR) 7yo 11-10 1/10F | R Walsh W P Mullins (IRE) |
Where have the winning runners come from?
Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase have been based:
- IRE: 17 winners with an additional 16 placings from 112 runners
- GB: 2 winners with an additional 5 placings from 15 runners
- FR: 1 winner with an additional 0 placings from 1 runner
2025 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase Replay
Barberstown Castle Novice Chase Trainer Statistics
The leading trainer in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase over the last 20 renewals is W P Mullins, who has won the race twelve times, with those twelve winners coming from Barker (2009), Arvika Ligeonniere (2013), Un De Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016), Great Field (2017), Footpad (2018), Chacun Pour Soi (2019), Energumene (2021), Blue Lord (2022), El Fabiolo (2023), Il Etait Temps (2024) and Majborough (2025). One trainer has not had the best of times in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase; Henry De Bromhead has sent a total of 12 runners to the race without recording a win.
Here are some of the top Barberstown Castle Novice Chase trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| W P Mullins | 33-12-14 | -0.87 | -3.51 |
| M F Morris | 7-1-1 | -3.00 | -3.12 |
| Philip Hobbs | 3-1-2 | -1.33 | -0.80 |
| Thomas Cooper | 2-1-2 | +3.00 | +2.23 |
| Tom George | 1-1-1 | +25.00 | +15.00 |
| C A Murphy | 1-1-1 | +4.00 | +2.50 |
| Edward P Harty | 1-1-1 | +4.00 | +2.40 |
| Paul Nolan | 1-1-1 | +2.25 | +1.41 |
| Henry De Bromhead | 12-0-4 | -12.00 | -1.80 |
| Mrs John Harrington | 6-0-1 | -6.00 | -4.90 |
Barberstown Castle Novice Chase Jockey Statistics
The leading jockey in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase over the last 20 renewals is Paul Townend, who has won the race three times, with those three winners coming from Energumene (2021), Blue Lord (2022) and El Fabiolo (2023).
Here are some of the top Barberstown Castle Novice Chase jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Jockey | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Townend | 9-3-4 | -3.35 | -2.65 |
| Mark Walsh | 6-1-1 | -4.64 | -1.77 |
| Danny Mullins | 3-1-1 | +1.50 | -1.00 |
| Jody McGarvey | 1-1-1 | +0.90 | +0.54 |
| Keith Donoghue | 2-0-1 | -2.00 | -0.87 |
| Darragh O'Keeffe | 2-0-0 | -2.00 | -1.00 |
| Joe Colliver | 1-0-1 | -1.00 | +1.50 |
| Phillip Enright | 1-0-1 | -1.00 | +0.50 |
| Daniel King | 1-0-0 | -1.00 | +0.00 |
| Ricky Doyle | 1-0-0 | -1.00 | -1.00 |
2026 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase Trends
Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): 2, 2, UR, 3, 2, F, 1, 3, 1, 6, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1
The percentage shown is the proportion of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones, as you would expect them to do well.
- 20 / 20 (72%) - Achieved a TS of 122+ (Last 3)
- 20 / 20 (73%) - Ran in 1 - 7 races (1 Year)
- 20 / 20 (77%) - Achieved an RPR of 145+ (Last 3)
- 20 / 20 (77%) - Achieved a TS of 129+ (Career)
- 20 / 20 (80%) - Off a break of 18 - 81 days
- 20 / 20 (80%) - Fewer than 8 races (Season)
- 20 / 20 (81%) - Break of 18 - 177 days (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (84%) - Highest Placed is not G3/Cl3
- 20 / 20 (84%) - Not on GD/FM (Debut)
- 20 / 20 (86%) - Ran in 5 - 25 races (Career)
- 20 / 20 (87%) - No bigger than 6/1 (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - No bigger than 25/1
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Within the first 6 of the market
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Fewer than 6 placings (Season)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Had 1 - 5 wins (180 Days)
Remember to use the trends listed above, along with the Punchestown racing predictions, to see if you can find the winner of the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase. Did you know that we have an OLBG Betting School section on OLBG? It is a place to help you improve your betting experience with articles covering numerous topics.
Are you already a member? If not, then why not? With over ÂŁ6,000 given away each month in the tipster competition, why not get involved? Remember, it is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then share your thoughts on the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase by adding a tip on the race here.
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Barberstown Castle Novice Chase Trend Analysis
â The worst performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners ran on Good ground on debut, when backing these, the trend shows a record of 0-20.
The course which has produced the most winners of the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase is Cheltenham; there have been a total of 9 winners of this race who ran at Cheltenham last time out. The next best course, which has produced the second most winners, is Aintree; there have been a total of 4 winners of this race who ran at Aintree last time out.
The race is open to both sexes, with male runners having produced a total of 20 winners from a total of 118 runners, while female runners have produced 0 winners from a total of 10 runners.
Looking over the past renewals, these are the stallions whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase:
- Denham Red (2 Wins)
- Oscar (2 Wins)
- Presenting (2 Wins)
Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Gods Own in 2014, winning for Tom George at odds of 25/1 under the guidance of Barry Geraghty. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals, there have been 10 winning favourites in the race. Ahead of the 2026 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase, why not head over to the best racing tipster page to see what the tipsters are backing today?
Route to the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase
Many trainers target races as preparation for the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase. These are the races which the recent winners ran in before coming here:
| Info | Last Race |
|---|---|
| 2025 - Majborough Cheltenham - 3rd of 5 (1/2) | Arkle Challenge Trophy |
| 2024 - Il Etait Temps Aintree - 1st of 5 (3/1) | Manifesto Novices' Chase |
| 2023 - El Fabiolo Cheltenham - 1st of 9 (11/10) | Arkle Challenge Trophy |
| 2022 - Blue Lord Cheltenham - 3rd of 11 (4/1) | Arkle Challenge Trophy |
| 2021 - Energumene Leopardstown - 1st of 9 (5/6) | Irish Arkle Novice Chase |
| 2019 - Chacun Pour Soi Naas - 1st of 11 (4/9) | Toalsbet.com Beginners Chase |
| 2018 - Footpad Cheltenham - 1st of 5 (5/6) | Arkle Challenge Trophy |
| 2017 - Great Field Thurles - 1st of 6 (4/11) | Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase |
| 2016 - Douvan Aintree - 1st of 5 (23/20) | Maghull Novices' Chase |
| 2015 - Un De Sceaux Cheltenham - 1st of 11 (4/6) | Arkle Challenge Trophy |
Schedule for Tuesday at the Punchestown Festival
The highlight on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival is the Grade 1 Champion Chase, which carries a purse of âŹ300,000. There are also two other Grade 1 races on the card with the Champion Novice Hurdle and the Champion Novice Chase.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle | Ascending Lark (GB) 7yo - 8/1 | Harry Derham Paul O'Brien |
| Champion Novice Hurdle | Irancy (FR) 7yo - 18/1 | W P Mullins Mark Walsh |
| Punchestown Champion Novice Chase | Champ Kiely (IRE) 9yo - 22/1 | W P Mullins Danny Mullins |
| Goffs Defender Bumper | Wonderful Everyday (IRE) 4yo - 16/1 | W P Mullins Miss R Dudfield |
| Punchestown Champion Chase | Marine Nationale (IRE) 8yo - 2/1 | Barry Connell Sean Flanagan |
Schedule for Wednesday at the Punchestown Festival
The Punchestown Gold Cup is the feature on day two of the festival. This Grade 1 is worth âŹ300,000 and is one of three G1 races on the card, with the Channor Novice Hurdle and Champion I.N.H. Flat Race being the others.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Channor Group Novice Hurdle | Jasmin De Vaux (FR) 6yo - 13/8 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| Champion INH Flat Race | Bambino Fever (IRE) 5yo - 11/8 | W P Mullins Miss J Townend |
| Punchestown Handicap Chase | James Du Berlais (FR) 9yo - 7/1 | W P Mullins J J Slevin |
| Punchestown Gold Cup | Galopin Des Champs (FR) 9yo - 5/6 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
Schedule for Thursday at the Punchestown Festival
Two Grade 1 races feature on day three, the highlight of those two being the âŹ300,000 Champion Stayers Hurdle, the other is the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle | Jeriko Du Reponet (FR) 6yo - 13/2 | Nicky Henderson James Bowen |
| Frontline Security Handicap Chase | Petit Tonnerre (FR) 7yo - 16/1 | Jonjo & A J O'Neill Richie McLernon |
| Barberstown Castle Novice Chase | Majborough (FR) 5yo - 4/11 | W P Mullins Mark Walsh |
| Champion Stayers Hurdle | Teahupoo (FR) 8yo - 5/4 | Gordon Elliott Sam Ewing |
Schedule for Friday at the Punchestown Festival
The Champion Hurdle is the feature on the Saturday; this Grade 1 is worth âŹ300,000 and is one of two Grade 1s on the card, with the Champion Novice Hurdle being the other.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Punchestown Listed Novice Handicap Chase | Sea Music (IRE) 7yo - 28/1 | Emmet Mullins Donagh Meyler |
| Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle | Final Demand (IRE) 6yo - 7/4 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| Punchestown Champion Hurdle | State Man (FR) 8yo - 9/4 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
Schedule for Saturday at the Punchestown Festival
The final day of the Punchestown Festival sees a couple of Grade 1 races, which both carry purses of âŹ125,000, and those are the Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle and the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle | Jade De Grugy (FR) 6yo - 1/1 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle | Lulamba (FR) 4yo - 11/10 | Nicky Henderson James Bowen |
| Punchestown Listed Handicap Hurdle | Hey Sunshine (IRE) 6yo - 11/2 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
Article Contributor Information
We are fortunate to have an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to the creation and maintenance of this Barberstown Castle Novice Chase Preview are Andy and Darren. They both work on the Horse Racing Tips team, overseeing the tipsters and managing the tip settlement, while also creating and managing all the horse racing event previews for National Hunt Racing.
Darren Brett
Expert Guide
Andy Powell
Expert Guide
Other Principal Races at the Punchestown Racecourse
Here are some other notable races at the Punchestown racecourse throughout the racing season that you may be interested in.
