Thyestes Day to attract big crowd to Gowran Park

The biggest raceday on the Kilkenny calendar is almost upon us with Goffs Thyestes Day set to take place in Gowran Park on Thursday afternoon.

The ‘race that stops the county’ will see a huge number of spectators from across the South -East region in what is a special event for local revellers.

Gowran Park general manager Eddie Scally would have been nervously looking on at the recent bad weather and while conditions will certainly be on the softer side, it looks to be all systems go for the Kilkenny venue.

The track was deemed unraceable last week but after the recent opening of their state of the art new weighing room, Gowran will be keen to showoff their new facility in all its glory on Thursday.

The seven racecard is headlined by the Goffs sponsored Thyestes Chase which commences at 2.50pm and the day will again be showcased to a wider audience on RTÉ Television with four live races in total.

A field of 18 will go to post for the €100,000 Grade 3 event which takes place over three miles and former winner Longhouse Poet is back again to try and regain his title.

Local trainer Willie Mullins saddled Carefully Selected to success in last year’s contest and will be aiming for a ninth win in his career and he has three entered in this year’s race (Bronn (Daryll Jacob), Glengouly (Paul Townend) and OnTheRopes (Sean O’Keeffe).

Carefully Selected was a well backed favourite in last year’s renewal but it looks a much more open race on paper this time around.

The race was first ran in 1954 and has gone from strength to strength ever since and sponsors Goffs are now more than a decade into supporting a top class affair that has developed into something of an Aintree Grand National Trial in recent times with a number of this year’s field having already ran at the showpiece event in Liverpool.

Away from the marquee event, the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle always attracts a decent field and Mullins once again appears to have a strong hand with 10-year-old former Cheltenham Festival winner Monkfish among five declared for the stamina laden affair.

The Rich Ricci-owned horse will face stiff opposition though from the likes of the Noel Meade trained, The Devils Coachman who looks to be aimed at the race with Summerville Boy, Ashdale Bob and Farouk D’Alene rounding off the field.

The likes of Presenting Percy and Teahupoo are previous winners who have gone on to bigger and better things so it’s always a race to keep an eye on.

The day’s racing kicks off with 1.05pm with the Langtons Kilkenny Handicap Hurdle and runs until the concluding PJ Foley Memorial Flat Race at 4.30pm.

The Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Ladies Auction Maiden Hurdle is a race that gives great opportunities to lady riders and Mullins and Jody Townend look to hold all the aces here with Captain Cody.

Elsewhere on the card, the Daly Farrell Chartered Accountants Beginners Chase that is run over 2m4f tends to throw up an exciting up and coming young chaser and a competitive field of eight will go to post.

Those present on the day will get the added bonus of seeing King George VI Chase winner Hewick paraded after the first two races.

The horse, who was bought in Goresbridge, is trained by Shark Hanlon who hails from Paulstown. His victory over Christmas crowned a wonderful two years after previously winning the Galway Plate and the American Grand National. His next engagement looks set to be either the Cheltenham Gold Cup or the Aintree Grand National in the next few months.

Tickets are still available for the meeting at www.GowranPark.ie and cost €20 for adults and €15 for students in an early bird sale which closes today (Wednesday) at 11pm.

 Tickets will also be available at the gate on Thursday at a €5 increase.

A complimentary shuttle bus service will leave from Kilkenny City Centre (just above the gates of Kilkenny Castle) two hours before the first race and return buses leaving at 6.30pm.

There will also be plenty of entertainment off the track on offer with live music in the Balcony Bar before racing while afterwards Peter and Paul will be in the Thyestes Bar and Afterdark will be in the Party Marquee.