Poplar Square Chase Tips & Betting Preview

Only five runners have been declared for the Grade 3 chase on Sunday’s Naas card but a good case can be made for all of them. Read our full race preview and get our experts’ betting tips below.

IN SUMMARY: There’s a good chance we are yet to see the best of Alisier D’Irlande, who disappointed at the Aintree festival when last in action but quickly announced himself as a smart novice chaser when winning twice in February and still has low mileage. However, preference is for TELL US MORE, who has the benefit of a recent run, a very respectable fourth in a Cork handicap last month, and can build on that performance now back on a left-handed track. There should also be more to come from Avant Tout, who signed off with two wins in April, and he is respected. The Game Changer enjoyed a very productive first season over fences but hasn’t been firing on all cylinders since a break. Dandridge was progressive in handicaps last season and now has to prove he can make his mark at this level.

1 Avant Tout – Won a small-field novice chase at Limerick (3m, heavy) in April and bettered that form when winning a big-field novices’ handicap chase at the Punchestown festival (2m5f, yielding) later that month; dropped back further in trip for today’s seasonal debut but is a strong traveler who needs to be taken very seriously.

2 The Game Changer – Gained six wins (three of them in Graded company) during first season over fences and ran with credit behind Douvan at all three of the big spring festivals; not at best on any of three starts since returning from a break, though, the latest when third over hurdles at Punchestown last month; needs to up his game.

3 Alisier D’Irlande – Lightly raced 6yo who impressed when winning twice in novice company in February, the first occasion over C&D; flopped behind Douvan when given a shot at a Grade 1 at Aintree in April but can get back on track after his subsequent break and we don’t yet know the limit of his ability.

4 Dandridge – Made excellent progress in handicaps last season and, after winning a valuable event at Doncaster (2m, good) in January, finished second at both the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals; disappointed over hurdles when last seen in June and will probably need to improve again to make a splash in Graded company, but that’s possible.

5 Tell Us More – Ended time with Willie Mullins with clear second to yesterday’s Grade 1 winner Sub Lieutentant in Grade 3 novice event here (2m4f, heavy) in March and made satisfactory return to action when fourth in good-quality Cork handicap (2m1f, yielding) for new stable last month; jumped to his left that day and can do better now returned to an anti-clockwise circuit.

myracing Forecast Prices: 5/2 Alisier D’Irlande, 11/4 Tell Us More, 3/1 Avant Tout, 4/1 The Game Changer, 8/1 Dandridge