Thyestes entries revealed First Lieutenant heads the weights for what is set to be a high-class renewal of the E100,000 Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park on Thursday, January 21st. Trained by Mouse Morris, the 11-year-old went down by only half-a-length when second to Don Poli in the Grade 1 Lexus Chase at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. On the back of that huge effort, he has been allotted top weight of 11st 10lbs and the same trainer’s Rule The World, runner-up to No More Heroes in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown, has been given 11st while his Paddy Power Chase-third, Folsom Blue, is on 10st 1lb. In all, Morris is responsible for five of the 44 entries, three fewer than champion trainer Willie Mullins who has won the race on six occasions and who gave Ruby Walsh his first victory when Djakadam was successful last year. Boston Bob is the highest-rated Mullins entry and he set to carry 11st 8lbs with Blood Cotil on 11st 5lbs, Mozoltov on 11st 4lbs and Ballycasey on 11st 1lb. A little further down the handicap, Suntiep has 10st 4lbs, the long-absent Vesper Bell has 10st 3lbs, Urano has been given 10st 2lbs and Dogora is on 9st 13lbs. Gordon Elliott has yet to win the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase but his early hand looks to be a strong one with nine entries. Ucello Conti, runner-up in the valuable Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown, is the County Meath trainer’s top-rated contender on 10st 9lbs while the good novice Lord Scoundrel is on 10st 8lbs, the same weight as Mala Beach. On Riverside City, his Troytown Handicap Chase winner who has been given 9st 3lbs, Elliott said, “He won very well in Navan and ran well at Leopardstown where he made a mistake at the second last but Gowran Park is the plan, he is in very good form and he should have a light weight so we’re looking forward to the race. "We could have four or maybe five runners in it; the prize-money is that good you have to take your chance. "Ucello Conti was second in the Paddy Power. I think he is a very good horse but he’s not an easy horse to train, so to be honest I think he would have come on from the Paddy Power again and I think I should have him spot on for Gowran." Jim Dreaper, who won the race for a second time when the Tommy Carberry-ridden Brown Lad was successful 40 years ago, has entered Goonyella and last year’s third has been handed a racing weight of 10st 13lbs. Dreaper had previously won with The Godfather in 1974. Goonyella would be ridden by Jonathan Burke who said, "We all know how good a stayer he is, he loves the ground that we are getting at the moment. He was third to Djakadam in the race last year and although he is obviously higher in the ratings this year, the ground, trip and everything suits him. "There is plenty of jumping around Gowran too, that’s his forte. If he was to take his chance he’d be there or thereabouts." Sandra Hughes has put her BoyleSports Irish Grand National winner Thunder And Roses in the race and he would carry 10st 11lbs if taking his chance. Other notable entries include Mary Louise Hallahan’s dual course winner Malt Gem on 9st 11lbs and Dermot McLoughlin’s Los Amigos, second in the race two years ago when trained by Jim Dreaper, who would carry 10st 3lbs this time around. The Donie Murphy-trained Bothair Clei, a winner at Limerick over Christmas, has been given 9st and last year’s runner-up My Murphy is trainer Liam Burke’s sole entry and has 10st 5lbs to carry. The Ross O'Sullivan-trained Baie Des Iles won the historic Connolly’s Red Mills Amateur National For The Conyngham Cup Handicap Chase at Punchestown on Saturday and his 6lbs penalty brings his weight to 9st 8lbs. Eddie Scally, General Manager of Gowran Park Racecourse, said, "There are a number of very highly-rated horses entered for this year’s Goff Thyestes Handicap Chase and it is set to be one of the best for some time. "All the big stables are well represented but historically this race has been kind to the ‘smaller man’ and perhaps we could have one of the less high-profile yards winning again. "Whatever happens, we are set for a great day on Thursday, January 21st and the supporting card is as strong as ever with the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle another highlight." Paddy Power bet: Paddy Power: 8 Mala Beach, Rule The World, 9 The Job Is Right, 10 Wounded Warrior, Goonyella, Folsom Blue, 12 Heathfield, 14 Ballycasey, Vics Canvas, Ucello Conti, My Murphy, Azorian, Los Amigos, Nickname Exit, 16 First Lieutenant, Blood Cotil, Thunder And Roses, Unic De Bersy, Dromnea, Killer Crow, Bonny Kate, 20 Boston Bob, Buckers Bridge, Suntiep, Vesper Bell, Captain Von Trappe, Leavethelighton, Empire Of Dirt, Horendus Hulabaloo, Baie Des Iles, Aurora Bell, Riverside City, 25 Mozoltov, Lord Scoundrel, Letter Of Credit, Urano, Dogora, Malt Gem, 33 Toon River, Court Frontier, 50 Sydney Paget, Bothair Clei, Winter Magic, 66 Refused A Name
