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.Carlow Nationalist: Thyestes Chase a race of qualityHorseracing History Online – Browse Archive (Races)Horseracing History Online – Browse Archive (Races)

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 2026 Now Is The Hour 9 10-10 Eoin Staples Gavin Cromwell

See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races

References

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, , , , , , , , , , , ,