Thyestes Chase Tips: Elliott Charge Looks Primed For Big Run

One of the most eagerly anticipated handicap chases in the Irish Racing calendar is the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park, which is traditionally run midweek in January. This year's renewal looks typically competitive and with €59,000 up tor grabs for the winner, it should be a thrilling spectacle. Billy Grimshaw has had one in mind for some time for this race and makes the case for us here... 

In five of the last six seasons, the winner of the Thyestes Chase has either been a Gordon Elliott or Willie Mullins trained runner. Martin Brassil is the one man who has stopped the dominance with Longhouse Poet in 2022, but looking at the entries and odds at the time of writing I would be surprised were the Elliott Mullins dominance to be denied again in 2024. The aforementioned 2022 winner scooped the prize when a younger, fresher horse than he is now and with a stone less weight on his back to carry, which probably explains why he is now a 16/1 chance to reclaim the crown that Carefully Selected scooped last season.

Jousting for favouritism at the time of writing are Angels Dawn, last season's Kim Muir winning mare, and Dunboyne, who finished second in this race last season and fourth behind the mare at Cheltenham. Sam Curling's mare has had a couple of spins over hurdles so far this season but these were clearly just prep runs for a big handicap chase and this race looks to have been the plan from some way out. Dunboyne was a 25/1 outsider last season but was only just reeled in by the winner close to home, and while he has three more pounds to carry this season that looks fairly lenient and he has every chance of being the best of Gordon Elliott's. Angels Dawn carries the same weight as her co market leader.

I am keen on Gevrey as a horse and will be supporting him in spring handicaps as the season progresses, but with the ground at Gowran heavy and his form this year on anything softer than soft reading PU, PU, I am giving the Munster National winner a swerve here. He could be a pace angle along with Bronn for Willie Mullins, who should give supporters a decent spin but cannot be trusted not to make shuddering mistakes. At the age of seven he should still be improving but I can't trust his jumping in a race this competitive.

Glengouly looks to be the number one from Closutton and is priced at 8/1 with Paul Townend booked to ride, and he is still unexposed over this sort of trip at eight years old. Horses do tend to become better stayers as they mature, but I'd want to see him see out this sort of test on heavy ground before backing him despite the confidence the yard must have behind him. Henry de Bromhead could have a strong hand with Shantreusse a shorter price for glory than Ain't That A Shame. I would actually fancy Rachael Blackmore's mount Ain't That A Shame more than the shorter priced stablemate on the grounds that he has won on heavy around here before, albeit over a lesser distance.

It is hard to know how a horse would've done when they are brought down or meet trouble in running and lose all chance, but I'm of the opinion FAKIR D'ALENE was travelling as well as anything last time out in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown when brought down at the fifth. On his run prior to this, he was best of the rest behind stablemate and next time out Becher Chase second under a huge weight Coko Beach and Cheltenham Mares' Chase fancy Limerick Lace. 11 stone 1 looks a lovely racing weight for this strapping Gordon Elliott chaser and his case is further enhanced by the booking of talented five pound claimer Danny Gilligan.

Heavy ground should be no problem for Fakir D'alene and with most firms paying an extra place or two, I would be disappointed were he to complete this time around and not be in the firs four home. Perhaps one of the market leaders will have more up their sleeve from a win perspective, but this lad looks rock solid and Gilligan will be able to slot the versatile gelding into the race in any position he sees fit, which could be handy if the race becomes tactical.