'He's being unleashed over fences' - Key connections to follow at Gowran Park on Thursday We’ve got a rare treat to look forward to on Thursday, as Gowran Park offers up a fantastic seven-race card. There are plenty of talking points, including the debut of a full-brother to Gaelic Warrior and Gerri Colombe returning to hurdles in the Galmoy. The big race of the day is the €100,000 Thyestes Chase, for which a full field of 18 has been declared. We’ve picked out an owner, trainer and jockey to follow across the card. Owner - JP McManus JP McManus is one of the sport’s most recognisable names, so it won’t surprise anyone that he’s the leading owner in both Britain and Ireland so far this season. He’s set to be represented by plenty of runners, so we’ve picked out a couple of the most interesting ones. Robert Tyner’s Better Times Ahead is favourite for the big race of the day, off the back of consecutive victories at Fairyhouse. The first of those successes came over hurdles but he won the Porterstown over 3m6f last time out. One of three that will carry the McManus silks in the nine-runner beginners’ chase, Harvard Guy was progressive over hurdles in the 2023/2024 season but hasn’t reached that level over fences yet. Haveigotnewsforyou was a winner over hurdles last time out and could be of interest, while The Wallpark was an excellent hurdler last term but has been poor this season. Trainer - Joseph O’Brien O’Brien might be more focused on the Flat than the jumps these days, but his small and select National Hunt squad are worth looking out for in the big races. He is set to have one runner in the Thyestes and one in the Galmoy Hurdle. Home By The Lee is a talented hurdler on his day, but isn’t quite at Grade 1 level these days. The fact that he drops into a Grade 2 here is therefore interesting and he appears to be a major contender. A fair fourth in the Christmas Hurdle on seasonal debut, he should improve for that run and is likely to get much closer here. Jordans was a smart novice chaser last term and he ran a nice race in a Grade 1 at Aintree in the spring, where he finished second to Caldwell Potter. He’s been running over hurdles this term, and the fact that he’s being unleashed over fences now suggests it could be his day. Jockey - John Shinnick John Shinnick’s career has taken off this season and he’s notched up a couple of notable successes already. They include the Troytown Handicap Chase, where he rode Answer To Kayf, and that partnership is being maintained in the Thyestes Chase. His 3lb claim will undoubtedly come in handy, as the 10-year-old tries to defy a mark of 150. There was lots to like about his performance at Navan and although he’s now on a 9lb higher mark, the gelding is still lightly raced over fences and there could be more to come. He’s also set to ride the Christian Williams-trained British raider Dixie Mafia in one of the earlier races on the card. This horse remains thoroughly unexposed, especially in handicaps, and it would be a long way to come for a day out.
