Tony Keenan looks ahead to the Thyestes Chase at Gowran in the week in his latest column.
Irish racing tips
0.5pts e.w. Favori De Champdou in Thyestes Chase, Thursday January 23, at 25/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3,4)
It might be worth taking a look ahead to Thursday’s Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park.
Willie Mullins has done very well in this race recently, but Gordon Elliott has more than held his own too with two winners and six runners-up since 2013, and it was interesting that he opted to run Three Card Brag at Navan yesterday (won) rather than here after he ran well in the Paddy Power, suggesting he may have something else for the race.
Shannon Royale, an unexposed novice, and Where It All Began, who was going well when hitting four out in the Welsh National, are the most obvious ones but FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU also looks overpriced.
He had a messy start to the season, missing four races between October and November due to unsuitably fast ground, and connections finally ran him in the Paddy Power at Leopardstown on December 27, which was also on going faster than he wants, presumably because they couldn’t wait any longer.
Finishing eighth there, he shaped a bit better than the result over a sharper test than he wants, down the inner for the first three quarters of the race which looked the unfavoured part of the track, while also seeming to find the pace a touch fast.
He was coming off the bridle when clipping the top of three out which halted his momentum before being bumped in the air at the second last, keeping on steadily afterwards in the manner of one that wanted a stiffer test, which he should get at Gowran.
Per Timeform times, the Paddy Power took 6 minutes, 13 seconds whereas the last five Thyestes have taken 7.18, 6.50, 6.34, 7.13 and 6.43 so even with a dry forecast, it should offer a ‘real feel’ test of at least two furlongs further.
That Paddy Power form looks solid, the winner well-suited by the track and unexposed ones in behind (including Nick Rockett who has good claims here), while Three Card Brag boosted it yesterday, while Favori De Champdou can be expected to improve for it, his first run in 252 days.
He has long looked a better horse right-handed, his form figures that way reading 4212111421F1, and while those patterns can be overblown, he had tended to race awkwardly left-handed too though not last time which I am taking as a positive.
His sole disappointing run right-handed came in last year's Irish Grand National, but he looked disadvantaged by the false start then, caught in a bad position in rear having initially jumped off in the lead first time around.
Updated at 1320 GMT on 19/01/25
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