Thyestes Chase
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Jockey colours header Template:Jockey colours row |} Template:Jockey colours collapsible header Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours no footer Template:Jockey colours named collapsible header Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours no footer Template:Jockey colours named collapsible header Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours no footer Template:Jockey colours named collapsible header Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours footer The Thyestes Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt handicap steeplechase run in Ireland. It takes place at Gowran Park Racecourse, Gowran, County Kilkenny in January, over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong (5029 metres). There are 17 fences to be jumped. The race is often contested by horses who go on to run in the Grand National and has been won since 2004 by three horses who have gone on to win the Aintree event: Hedgehunter, Numbersixvalverde and Nick Rockett. The most famous winners of the race were Arkle (1964) and Flyingbolt (1966). It currently has a maximum field of 18 runners. The race is sponsored by bloodstock auctioneers Goffs.
History
The race has been won by three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Arkle (1964), Irish Grand National & Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Flyingbolt (1966) and Aintree Grand National winners Hedgehunter (2005), Numbersixvalverde (2006) and Nick Rockett (2025). The race takes its name from the racehorse, Thyestes, named after a figure from Greek mythology. Thyestes, by The Tetrarch (out of Tetratema), was bred by Major Victor McCalmont of Mount Juliet and trained by Atty Persse at Stockbridge, Wiltshire. Thyestes was rated the third-best two-year-old of 1930 as a result of his winning his only two races, the National Breeders Produce Stakes over 5 furlongs at Sandown Park and the Rous Memorial Stakes over 6 furlongs at Goodwood. Thyestes never ran again due to injury and was retired to stud in Yorkshire.
The Thyestes Trophy was presented to the Kilkenny Show by Major Dermot McCalmont for a 5-year-old likely to make a good hunter. The trophy was won by a horse owned by Mr John McEnery of Rossenarra Stud, Kells, County Kilkenny and ridden by his son Martin. The McEnery family then presented it to Gowran Park for the first running of the Thyestes Chase in 1954.[1][2][3]
Records
Most successful horse since 1988 (2 wins):
- Wylde Hide – 1995, 1996
- Bob Treacy – 1999, 2001
- Priests Leap- 2008, 2009
- On His Own – 2012, 2014
Leading jockey since 1988 (3 wins):
- David Casey – This Is Serious (2002), Hedgehunter (2004), On His Own (2012)
- Paul Townend – On His Own (2014), Carefully Selected (2023) , Nick Rockett (2025)
Leading trainer since 1988 (10 wins):
- Willie Mullins – Micko's Dream (2000), Hedgehunter (2004), Homer Wells (2007), On His Own (2012, 2014), Djakadam (2015), Invitation Only (2019), Total Recall (2020), Carefully Selected (2023), Nick Rockett (2025)
Recent winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Weight | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Feltrim Hill Lad | 7 | 10-03 | P Connell | Patrick Griffin |
| 1989 | Olan Lad | 9 | 10–13 | M Flynn | Frank Lehane |
| 1990 | Mweenish | 8 | 10-00 | P Gill | John Webber |
| 1991 | Roc De Prince | 8 | 10-05 | Brendan Sheridan | Ted Walsh |
| 1992 | Grand Habit | 8 | 10-03 | Jason Titley | Harry De Bromhead |
| 1993 | Zeta's Lad | 10 | 10-09 | Robbie Supple | John Upson |
| 1994 | Nuaffe | 9 | 10–12 | S H O'Donovan | Pat Fahy |
| 1995 | Wylde Hide | 8 | 10-08 | Francis Woods | Arthur Moore |
| 1996 | Wylde Hide | 9 | 10-02 | Francis Woods | Arthur Moore |
| 1997 | Couldn't Be Better | 10 | 12-00 | Graham Bradley | Charlie Brooks |
| 1998 | Letterlee | 8 | 10-02 | Shay Barry | T Cahill |
| 1999 | Bob Treacy | 10 | 12-00 | Norman Williamson | Michael Hickey |
| 2000 | Micko's Dream | 8 | 11-07 | Jason Titley | Willie Mullins |
| 2001 | Bob Treacy | 12 | 10-08 | John Cullen | Michael Hickey |
| 2002 | This Is Serious | 8 | 10-00 | David Casey | Charlie Swan |
| 2003 | Be My Belle | 7 | 10-00 | Timmy Murphy | Sean Treacy |
| 2004 | Hedgehunter | 8 | 10-02 | David Casey | Willie Mullins |
| 2005 | Numbersixvalverde | 9 | 10-05 | Niall Madden | Martin Brassil |
| 2006 | Dun Doire | 7 | 09-10 | Paul Carberry | Tony Martin |
| 2007 | Homer Wells | 9 | 10-02 | Davy Condon | Willie Mullins |
| 2008 | Priests Leap | 8 | 10-07 | Phillip Enright | Thomas Gerard O'Leary |
| 2009 | Priests Leap | 9 | 10–13 | Phillip Enright | Thomas Gerard O'Leary |
| 2010 | Whinstone Boy | 9 | 09-11 | Sean Flanagan | James Joseph Mangan |
| 2011 | Siegemaster | 10 | 11-07 | Davy Russell | Dessie Hughes |
| 2012 | On His Own | 8 | 10-02 | David Casey | Willie Mullins |
| 2013 | Jadanli | 11 | 10-07 | Andrew Lynch | Paul John Gilligan |
| 2014 | On His Own | 10 | 11-06 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| 2015 | Djakadam | 6 | 11-10 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2016 | My Murphy | 10 | 10-05 | Robbie Power | Liam Burke |
| 2017 | Champagne West | 9 | 11-07 | David Mullins | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2018 | Monbeg Notorious | 7 | 10-02 | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
| 2019 | Invitation Only | 8 | 11-06 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2020 | Total Recall | 11 | 11-04 | Danny Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 2021 | Coko Beach | 6 | 10-06 | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
| 2022 | Longhouse Poet | 8 | 10-09 | Darragh O'Keeffe | Martin Brassil |
| 2023 | Carefully Selected | 11 | 11-08 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| 2024 | Ain't That A Shame | 10 | 11-03 | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2025 | Nick Rockett | 8 | 11-11 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
See also
References
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- Racing Post:
- 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
- 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
- 2008, 2009, 2010, Template:Racing Post, Template:Racing Post, Template:Racing Post, Template:Racing Post, Template:Racing Post, Template:Racing Post, Template:Racing Post
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