14:50 Gowran Park

Thursday 25 January 2024

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:30

Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 7m 18.5s

Bronn^p1²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153

12/1

Well-beaten fourth of 6 to Jungle Boogie in New Year's Day Chase at Tramore (22.8f, heavy, 9/2) 24 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Hasn't been in much form so far this season but dangerous to rule out on handicap debut.

Form: 2133-44

Longhouse Poet^t²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Slevin| T: M Brassil| OR: 152| CD

40/1

C&D winner. Six wins from 22 NH runs. 20/1, never involved under considerate handling when well-beaten fifth of 6 to Jungle Boogie in New Year's Day Chase at Tramore (22.8f, heavy) 24 days ago. Won this 2 years ago from 7 lb lower but he's tricky to assess at present.

Form: 6U1U-95

Espanito Bello^v1⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: B Connell| OR: 150| D

22/1

Made a winning return at Naas in November. 8/1, disappointing when pulled up in handicap hurdle at Navan (25.2f, heavy) 47 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Visor on 1st time.

Form: 451P-1P

Any Second Now^b⁴⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 148| D

25/1

Better for run when seventh of 11 in handicap chase (very easy-to-back 9/1) at Navan (20.4f, heavy) 47 days ago. Back up in trip. Probably not the force of old but his mark reflects that.

Form: 2/241P-7

Gevrey^p⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 146

33/1

Latest win at Limerick in October. Possibly amiss when pulled up in handicap chase at Navan (24f, heavy, 16/1) 67 days ago, folding home turn. Must bounce back.

Form: 42-3P1P

Ontheropes^p²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145

20/1

Offered little after 23 months off when pulled up in handicap chase at Leopardstown (24.4f, heavy, 66/1) 29 days ago.

Form: 21465/P

Ain't That A Shame⁶⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 144| C

14/1

Course winner last March. 8/1, pulled up in handicap chase at Navan (24f, heavy) 67 days ago. Yet to fire this season but he would be folly to discount, nonetheless.

Form: 2410-9P

Diol Ker^b²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Kieren Buckley| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| D

25/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2022. 40/1, seventh of 27 in handicap chase at Leopardstown (24.4f, heavy) 29 days ago, weakening before last. Has work to do.

Form: U7-5F87

Fakir D'alene^b²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 142

10/1

Had his race ended early through no fault of his own when brought down fifth in handicap chase at Leopardstown (24.4f, heavy, 11/1) 29 days ago.

Form: 74B/23B

Glengouly²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141| C

7/1

20/1, shaped as if retaining all ability making handicap debut after 10 months off when second of 12 at Limerick (19.4f, heavy) 4 weeks ago. Up in trip. 4 lb higher here and he's much respected for the trainer/jockey combination that won this 12 months ago.

Form: P/1FP5-2

Macs Charm²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Brian Hayes| T: Colm Murphy| OR: 141| C| D

25/1

Failed to come on for recent run when pulled up in handicap chase at Leopardstown (24.4f, heavy, 50/1) 29 days ago. Others have achieved more.

Form: 4221-PP

Frontal Assault^b⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: G Elliott| OR: 139

20/1

Remained in good heart when 9½ lengths fourth of 18 to Street Value in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (29.6f, soft, 17/2) 53 days ago, making effort earlier than ideal.

Form: 66-3754

Angels Dawn⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Phillip Enright| T: S Curling| OR: 138

6/1

Kim Muir winner at the Cheltenham Festival back in March. 5/1, below form seventh of 16 in handicap hurdle at Navan (25.2f, heavy) 47 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase.

Form: 1U16-27

Dunboyne^b⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 138| C

5/1

Course winner. On a going day and ran respectably after 7 months off when fourth of 20 in handicap chase at Navan (24f, heavy, 22/1) 67 days ago. Went down narrowly in this 12 months ago so he must be taken seriously provided his mind is on the job (has looked none too keen).

Form: 1P24P-4

Shantreusse⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 133| BF

7/1

Strong in the betting and unlucky to bump into a handicap blot after 9 months off when second of 11 in handicap chase at Navan (20.4f, heavy, 4/1) 47 days ago. Up in trip. One to bear in mind.

Form: 0/4259-2

Stormy Judge²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Richard Condon⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 132

17/2

Fared better than previously over hurdles when fifth of 21 in handicap (10/1) at Leopardstown (20f, heavy) 4 weeks ago, barely adequate test. Switches from hurdles to chase. Up in trip. Worth a second look from this sort of mark.

Form: 05P/745

Street Value^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: D E Mullins| T: J P Flavin| OR: 132| C

9/1

Registered his second success over fences at Fairyhouse in December. 13/2, creditable third of 6 in handicap chase at Cork (20f, heavy) 19 days ago, barely adequate test. Unexposed over long distances, so he's not dismissed back up in trip.

Form: PF-3P13

Royal Thief^b,t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: Jake Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 130| D

40/1

Again let down by his jumping when fell first in handicap chase (50/1) at Leopardstown (24.4f, heavy) 29 days ago. Easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: B/16-88F

Non-Runners

Where It All Began¹²

Weight: 10-0| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Dunboyne (5/1), Angels Dawn (6/1), Glengouly (7/1), Shantreusse (7/1), Stormy Judge (17/2), Street Value (9/1), Fakir D'alene (10/1), Bronn (12/1), Ain't That A Shame (14/1), Frontal Assault (20/1), Ontheropes (20/1), Where It All Began (20/1), Espanito Bello (22/1), Macs Charm (25/1), Diol Ker (25/1), Any Second Now (25/1), Gevrey (33/1), Royal Thief (40/1), Longhouse Poet (40/1)

Another fiendishly competitive renewal of one of the most prestigious handicap chases of the season in Ireland and last year's runner-up DUNBOYNE is taken to go a place better on the back of a satisfactory return in the Troytown a couple of months ago. Willie Mullins/Paul Townend combined to take this 12 months ago and Glengouly may emerge as the main threat, with Shantreusse, Angels Dawn and Bronn another handful also worth considering.