Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park

The Irish meeting at Gowran Park offers much better sport than the U.K. meetings today, and the 3 mile Thyestes Handicap Chase at 16.05 is always one of the hottest handicaps of the season. There is a very strong field of 18, 4 of which are trained by Willie Mullins. Presumably Ruby Walsh partners the stable´s main hope Shakervilz, who had a prep over hurdles last time but has repeatedly run well at this level.

Glam Gerry (Colm Murphy/ B Hayes) landed gamble in great style at Leopardstown at Christmas, but is racing over this trip for the first time, now faces much stronger opposition, and has been bumped up 20 lbs by the handicapper. Our very tentative selection is Tharawaat (Gordon Elliott/ Davy Russell) and the more rain that falls the better. The other big race is the Galmoy Hurdle (Grade Two, 3 miles) at 14.35, which features two of Ireland´s best hurdlers Zaidpour (Mullins/ Walsh) and Voler la Vedette (Murphy/ Andrew Lynch). Both have been in great form this season and we have slight preference for Murphy´s mare, who runs here rather than in Sunday´s Irish Champion Hurdle, in which Mullins is expected to saddle Cheltenham favourite Hurricane Fly.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Gorgeous Sixty - Arnaud - One Cool Shabra
2. Race: Voler La Vedette - Zaidpour - Chicago Grey
3. Race: Szabo`S Destiny - Golanbrook - Warrior One
4. Race: Primroseandblue - Inish Island - Alf Wright
5. Race: Glam Gerry - Adams Island - Shakervilz
6. Race: Jack Absolute - Quarryvale - Cloughmile
7. Race: Morning Royalty - Casablanca Lily - Blue Bicycle