Toon River headed towards Thyestes again All five of his wins have come at Gowran Park so it's no surprise to learn that the veteran Toon River will return to his favourite course to contest the Grade A Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase on January 26th.   Recently turned twelve, the Witness Box gelding is understandably a favourite with his trainer Mary Louise Hallahan.  Despite his advancing years Toon River continues to show some spark, including last time when second in a handicap hurdle at the Limerick Christmas festival.   "Toon River is Toon River.  He'll be going for the Thyestes again at the end of the month.  He'll have another go, it's Gowran Park, it's where he loves," said Miss Hallahan.   "On his best effort in the Thyestes before he finished sixth (behind Djakadam in 2015).   "He's rated in the high 140s, so what else do you do than go for these type of races.  He loves Gowran Park — he has a good record around there.   "He's shoving on now — he's twelve, but he's still happier racing than being at home.   "He's entered up for this Saturday in a hurdle race at Cork.  That won't be ideal for him but he's in such good form we'd just love to get a run into him.   "At this hour of his life he's happier racing than he is training at home."   Unfortunately the horse that represented the Hallahan yard in the 2016 Thyestes Chase, Malt Gem, met his demise after a second placing at Limerick back in April.   The Macroom-based trainer revealed: "Malt Gem sadly was put down last year.  He was second in Limerick and he pulled up very lame.  It transpired that he had badly damaged his foot.  I don't know how that was — just one of those things.   "It was tough luck.  He'd shown some really decent bits of form."
