Carefully has to battle back after blunder

Carefully Selected survived a blunder three from home to land the odds in the Naas Racecourse Business Club Novice Chase this afternoon.

Willie Mullins' charge was sent to post a 4/6 shot in the three-miler having won his first two starts over fences.

He bowled along under Paul Townend in the Grade 3 contest but got the third last all wrong and surrendered his lead.

The Well Chosen gelding had recovered to join Spyglass Hill when that rival crashed out at the penultimate fence.

He had to be kept up to his work from the back of the last to record a four-length win over 25/1 shot Forza Milan

The win today means that Carefully Selected now qualifies for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.

Mullins said:- “He makes hard work of it. That’s twice he’s been taken out of a race with what appeared race ending mistakes but has come back.

“He stays all day and his jumping is generally safe. That will be good experience for him.

“He doesn’t look the fastest but I think he has more speed than he looks at least over that sort of trip. 

“He’s qualified now for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and it looks like that’s where he’ll go.

“I think better ground won’t inconvenience him over a trip.”

Paddy Power and Betfair left the winner unchanged on 4/1 for the National Hunt Chase while BoyleSports remain 7/2.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)