Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I’m focusing on the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park.
Gowran Park: Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase – 3m1f
The Thyestes Chase is a proper midweek treat for Irish racing fans. Alongside the feature handicap, we also have the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle on what is Gowran Park’s biggest day of the season.
There’s a maximum field of 18 for the day’s most valuable race which will be run on heavy ground.
Better Times Ahead won the Porterstown Handicap Chase (3m6f) at Fairyhouse in November and heads the ante-post betting. The 9yo stays very well, as he showed last time, and is three from six with heavy in the going description. Testing ground suits. He’s 9lb higher now but still holds strong claims.
Answer To Kayf is another well suited by heavy ground, with three wins from five on the surface. He’s 9lb higher than when landing the valuable Troytown Handicap at Navan and remains unexposed over three miles plus. There could be more to come from the 10yo.
Mullins Strength in Numbers
Willie Mullins has saddled four of the last ten winners of this race and runs six of the 18 runners. With all the last ten winners returned at 16/1 or shorter, the three to concentrate on look to be Captain Cody, High Class Hero and Quai De Bourbon, all hovering around the 8/1 mark.
Paul Townend has seemingly opted for Captain Cody but Trying to work out which one of Willie Mullins's horses has the best chance looks a tough ask.
Captain Cody ran to form when seventh, beaten 9¼ lengths, in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown last time. Today’s slightly longer trip looks a plus, though he may yet want an even stiffer stamina test.
High Class Hero shaped with promise on his seasonal return when second at Punchestown over 2m5½f. A good third in last season’s bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown over 3m5½f, he stays well and the return to three miles plus is a positive. With just five starts over fences, he remains capable of better.
Quai De Bourbon was pulled up when sent off 3/1 favourite for the Troytown. A fine third in last year’s Irish Grand National, he’s surely better than he showed on his return. He also won a beginners’ chase at this meeting last year. Very much in the mix if bouncing back.
Not Just About the Market Leaders
Now Is The Hour finished a solid 7½-length fourth in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown, a run that puts him firmly in the mix and he gets his ground. The concern is that he remains a nine-race maiden over fences, while Gavin Cromwell’s yard has gone 20 days and 41 runners since its last winner.
Jordans improved to finish a close second to Caldwell Potter in the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April. He’s had a couple of spins over hurdles since and this has likely been the plan. The big question is whether he wants heavy ground. If he handles conditions, he has strong claims.
Search For Glory has finished runner-up on his last two starts in valuable handicap chases, including when second in the Paddy Power Chase last time. He looks set to be on the premises again for a yard that has won this race twice since 2018 and is the pick of Jack Kennedy.
Harry Des Ongrais, a course winner over fences, pulled up in last year’s Irish Grand National. After eight months off, he returned with an encouraging third at Navan. He remains open to improvement in handicaps and is respected for a trainer who has a good record in the race.
Intense Raffles won the 2024 Irish Grand National on heavy ground. He was campaigned with the Aintree Grand National in mind last season but finished a close second to Nick Rockett, giving 3lb, in the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse. He hasn’t had his preferred testing ground on his last two starts and better is expected. Can’t be ruled out.
1:45 – John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle (Grade 2) – 2m7½f
This doesn’t look the strongest renewal of this Grade 2 contest. Staffordshire Knot, a winner of his last two starts on testing ground, will relish conditions and has been installed as the early favourite.
Last year’s winner Rocky’s Diamond returns to hurdles after four runs over fences this season. He must give 5lb to Staffordshire Knot. But would have strong claims if anywhere near the level he showed in this race twelve months ago.
The most intriguing of the seven runners is Gerri Colombe, a stablemate of the favourite. A high-class chaser on his day, the 10yo was returning from a 14-month absence when pulling up in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. It’s hard to know how much ability remains, but first-time cheekpieces add an extra layer of interest.
Earlier on the card in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (1:10).
Joyau De Thaix made it 2 from 6 over hurdles when winning at Limerick over Christmas. He could be capable of better and could defy a 6lb rise in the weights.
Kingkong Ciergues came from midfield to win at Fairyhouse last time. Testing ground and three miles suit. Whilst an 8lb rise demand more improvement he could find it if getting a good stamina test.
In tomorrow’s column I’ll be looking at the first of two days of racing at Doncaster.
Good luck with your Thursday bets.
John