The Thyestes Chase, an important 3-mile handicap race, takes place at Gowran Park Racecourse soon. Let's have a look at trends ahead of this notable indicator for the Grand National. And name the underdog worth considering the wagers.
In analysing the key trends for the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park, several patterns emerge that can guide predictions:
- Dominance of Trainers: Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have secured victories in five of the last six races.
- Breeding Patterns: A notable 22 out of the last 24 winners of this race have been Irish-bred, indicating a strong local pedigree preference.
- Odds as an Indicator: Seven of the last nine winners have had single digit odds at the start of the race, suggesting that favourites often fare well.
- Role of Claimers: It’s been over a decade since a claimer triumphed in this race, with the last occurrence in 2009.
Given these trends, Dunboyne emerges as a strong contender for this year's Thyestes Chase. A course winner, Dunboyne narrowly missed victory in this race last year, finishing a close second behind Carefully Selected.
Currently, he is only 5lb heavier in the weights compared to last year. His performance in the Troytown, where he finished fourth, was commendable, especially considering it was his season debut in November.
Potential Dark Horse in the Field
Macs Charm, trained by Colm Murphy, stands out as an undervalued contender at Gowran Park, with a track record of 1-2-2. Notably, Macs Charm was behind Ain’t That A Shame in a novice hurdle here last season, but now has a 3lb advantage over that rival. Despite recent setbacks, Macs Charm's return to Gowran Park could mark a significant upturn in form. Keep an eye on this horse as a possible surprise in the Thyestes Chase.