15:30 Gowran Park

Thursday 22 January 2026

All12:4013:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:05

Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:34 | Winning time: 7m 10.40s

High Class Hero⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152

10/1

Progressive hurdler who ended smart novice chase season with a third in Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (28.7f). As good as ever when runner-up in a 2m5f handicap at Punchestown on reappearance. Should go well back up in distance but Paul Townend prefers Captain Cody.

Form: 22123/2

Intense Raffles²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Slevin| T: T Gibney| OR: 151| D

9/1

Smart chaser who won the 2024 Irish Grand National. Better than ever when second in Grade 3 Bobbyjo back at Fairyhouse on return but not seen to best effect on sounder surface subsequently. No surprise to see him more competitive back on more testing ground.

Form: 02P/38P-

Quai De Bourbon⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151| BF| C

9/1

Off the mark over fences here last season and confirmed himself a smart chaser when overcoming a less-than-ideal preparation to finish third in 2025 Irish Grand National. Disappointed when pulled up in the Troytown on reappearance but he's in excellent hands and has been freshened up for this.

Form: 31UB3/P

Answer To Kayf⁶⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: John Shinnick⁽³⁾| T: T O'Brien| OR: 150

10/1

Much improved to win 2½m novice handicap chase at Naas in January and again flourished in the mud when landing 19-runner Troytown at Navan in November. Sure to appreciate this test of stamina and merits plenty of respect.

Form: 45106/1

Captain Cody²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| C

7/2

Smart chaser who landed Scottish Grand National last season. Promising third in Drinmore at Fairyhouse on return and shaped as if still in form when seventh in Paddy Power chase at Leopardstown, when not ideally placed. Will handle conditions and gets the vote of confidence from Paul Townend.

Form: 43U1/37

Jordans²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 150

12/1

Smart runner-up in Grade 1 Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree final outing last season. Should be spot on for this following couple of spins over hurdles (shaped well when fith at Leopardstown latest) and he's very much unexposed as a staying handicap chaser.

Form: U252/85

Spanish Harlem^p,t⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Cleary-Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| D

28/1

Seventh in this race in 2025. Improved performance when landing second-leg of a double in the Kerry National at Listowel but unable to get to the front when pulled-up in Coral Gold Cup at Newbury last time. Likely needs a career-best.

Form: 4C4/11P-

Harry Des Ongrais⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 144| C

9/1

Useful performance to win 2½m maiden chase here last season and back on track when third in listed Foxrock handicap at Navan on return. Lightly-raced 9-y-o is one of the least exposed in the field and should be capable of better for excellent yard.

Form: 7512P/3

Pied Piper^b,t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Kevin Healy⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 144

33/1

Smart hurdler whose best effort this season came when fifth in Troytown in November. Not disgraced but little win threat when ninth in the Paddy Power chase latest and may again have to settle for minor honours.

Form: F32-569

Search For Glory^b,t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 144

16/1

Grade 1 placed as a novice and back to his best in valuable handicaps this season, finishing runner-up in the Foxrock and Paddy Power Chase. Jack Kennedy back aboard and looks to have very solid claims for powerful stable.

Form: 070/022

Velvet Elvis^p³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Dylan Kidd⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 143

33/1

Runner-up in this race for Gavin Cromwell in 2025. Pulled up on his yard bow in Troytown and only minor step in right direction when seventh in Tommy Whittle at Haydock last month. Remains to be seen if he's back on song with headgear refitted.

Form: 1028/P7-

Yeah Man^p²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 143| BF

11/1

Fourth in this race last year and returned to his best when runner-up in Troytown. Backed that up with solid second back over hurdles at Leopardstown (23.4f) last time. Should give a good account, for all his yard are enduring a lean spell in terms of winners.

Form: 9U9-622

Now Is The Hour²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Eoin Staples⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 141

8/1

Promising novice (in contention when falling in National Hunt Novices' handicap at Cheltenham) who ran right up to his best when 7½ length fourth in the Paddy Power chase at Leopardstown last month. Entitled to be competitive again.

Form: 4FP/384

Shecouldbeanything^p,t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Carl Millar⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 140

33/1

Likeable mare finished third in Galway Plate in July. Found to have an irregular heartbeat next time but confirmed her well-being when well held second behind Dinoblue in 3-runner Grade 3 latest. This requires more.

Form: 337/3P2

Shanbally Kid²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137

20/1

Back on track in emphatic style when winning 23-runner handicap chase at Punchestown (31.3f, good to soft) last May but didn't jump fluently when eleventh in 28-runner Paddy Power chase on reappearance. Entitled to take a step forward if he can jump better here.

Form: 090P1/0

Conyers Hill^h²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Nolan| OR: 135

20/1

Travelled strongly before effort flattened out when fourth in 2½m Paddy Power Gold Gup at Cheltenham in November and held every chance when falling 2 out in listed handicap at Limerick. Interesting profile but remains to be seen if he if gets home over this markedly longer trip (hood refitted).

Form: 162/24-F

Will Do^b²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Josh Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 134| D

20/1

Not seen to best effect when sixth in this race last year. Better than ever when going close in Porterstown at Fairyhouse (3m6f) and best not judged on latest run (always behind from standing start). Another who'll appreciate this test of stamina.

Form: 30/7020

Better Times Ahead⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: R Tyner| OR: 131

17/2

Returned to his best with back-to-back success at Fairyhouse, looking well suited by the extreme trip when scoring by neck from Will Do in the Porterstown (3m6f) latest, doing well have met trouble in running. Forecast rainfall in his favour and has to be respected in bid for hat-trick.

Form: 2964/11

Non-Runners

Lonesome Boatman⁵³

Weight: 10-2| Age: 10

T: Sean Allen J: Reserve 1

Uncle Pat²⁵

Weight: 10-0| Age: 8

T: W P Mullins J: Reserve 2

Beaufort Scale²⁶

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: G Elliott J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Captain Cody (7/2), Now Is The Hour (8/1), Better Times Ahead (17/2), Harry Des Ongrais (9/1), Quai De Bourbon (9/1), Intense Raffles (9/1), Answer To Kayf (10/1), High Class Hero (10/1), Yeah Man (11/1), Jordans (12/1), Search For Glory (16/1), Conyers Hill (20/1), Will Do (20/1), Shanbally Kid (20/1), Uncle Pat (25/1), Lonesome Boatman (25/1), Spanish Harlem (28/1), Shecouldbeanything (33/1), Velvet Elvis (33/1), Pied Piper (33/1), Beaufort Scale (50/1)

Grade 1 placed as a novice, SEARCH FOR GLORY arrives on the back of a rock-solid second in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown and he gets the vote with Jack Kennedy returning. Harry Des Ongrais looks interesting if building on an encouraging reappearance in the Foxrock, he's one of the least exposed, along with Jordans who was progressive as a novice and shaped well over hurdles last time. Hat-trick seeking Better Times Ahead is another to note in a typically competitive renewal.