On Thursday January 25^th the seventieth running of The Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase (Grade 3) got underway at the Kilkenny track Gowran Park. Although it was a damp day, it certainly didn’t dampen the day for Rachel Blackmore riding her first winner of The Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase, and being the first female jockey to ride a winner of “The Race That Stops A County”. It was also a day that young seven pound claimer Luke Donnelly will never forget by riding his first winner on the track. 

A first Thyestes for Blackmore

The first race went to post at 1.05pm, with Champagne Mahler making all the running under Darragh O’ Keeffe for Henry de Bromhead. O’ Keeffe was probably the cleanest jockey on the day to arrive back into the winner’s enclosure, as the white with a red triple diamond silks came back into the parade ring as if they had only come out of a fresh wash. Champagne Mahler won comfortably as well by six and a half lengths to Kilbarry Saint in second.

The second race on the card went to post at 1.40pm. The Willie Mullins trained Captain Cody was ridden to victory by Miss Jody Townend in “The Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Ladies Auction Maiden Hurdle”, the 2/11 favourite showed his form really stood to him from previously running in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper in 2023 when finishing sixth to A Dream To Share by only six lengths, and now recording a winning start on his debut over hurdles by an impressive ten lengths to Backtonormal in second. 

 The first graded race on the card was the third race which went to post at 2.15pm,  “The John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle” (Grade 2) which was won by Monkfish who was ridden by champion jockey Paul Townend and trained by champion trainer Willie Mullins. Monkfish who had come from last to first joined Ashdale Bob and Summerville Boy jumping the last flight of hurdles almost three in line, only for the second favourite Monkfish to kick clear after jumping the last hurdle in impressive victory in the hands of Townend by five and a half lengths to Summerville Boy in second. Presenting the prizes after the race to the winning connections was former National Hunt jockey Tommy Carmody who rode Galmoy on a number of his runs in the past. 

The Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase was next on the card at 2.50pm and although it’s a Grade 3 it’s the biggest race on the card at Gowran Park all year round, as it’s known as “The Race That Stops A County”. A huge crowd of racegoers surrounded the parade ring, as the horses walked around, as their jockeys were receiving instructions from the trainers before being legged up to go down to the start for the seventieth running of The Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase ( Grade 3). Dunboyne went off as the 5/1 favourite who had been runner-up in this race last year to Carefully Selected. This year it was to be the Henry de Bromhead trained Ain’t That A Shame and ridden by the first lady to ever win a Grand National and now the first lady to win The Thyestes Chase, the inform Rachel Blackmore who once again created history. The 14/1 outsider tracked the leaders until four fences from home and moved into third position, then led before two fences out and kept on well to the line, holding off Glengouly ridden by Paul Townend. Led back into the winners enclosure by Groom Jack Kelly and Travelling Head Girl Zoe Smalley, it was clear to see that the huge crowds outside the parade ring were well and truly thrilled to see the Henry de Bromhead ten-year-old gelding back in the number one spot,  for the owner Robcour. 

Ain’t That A Shame and Rachel Blackmore on route to winning The Goffs Thyestes Chase

The Daly Farrell Chartered Accountants Beginners Steeplechase was the fifth race at 3.25pm. Going to the Willie Mullins Yard for a treble on the day, and with Paul Townend in the saddle once again to make it a double on the day for himself onboard Tactical Move at a price of 5/4 favourite. Winning comfortably by three and a half lengths, the ten-year-old gelding won well on what was his fifth career start on the track, and his second run over fences. Although he is a ten-year-old, he could be one to keep a close eye on for the season ahead. 

Race six on the card was The Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at 4.00pm. The Philip Rothwell trained horse Billy Lee Swagger was the 2/1 favourite, but was narrowly beaten by a head by Champagne Platinum giving young Luke Donnelly his first winner of his career. I interviewed Luke after weighing back in, the Tipperary jockey said, he was thrilled to ride his first winner on the track for owner Mr. McManus and his boss Enda Bolger, and to be given the opportunity to ride for Mr. McManus is one he will never forget, and is so grateful for his boss to have given him the opportunity, and to ride in the famous racing silks of one of the biggest owners in National Hunt racing. Luke who is based with Enda Bolger since September 2023 used to hold an amateur licence but changed his licence to a conditional licence because he was too light. Since Luke has joined the Howsrdstown Yard in Limerick, he has gained a lot more experience in riding and schooling younger horses over hurdles and fences, and schooling over cross-country obstacles as well. Before his move to Enda Bolger’s yard, Luke spent two years in Willie Mullins’ yard where he gained bundles of experience in schooling horses and riding plenty of work with lots of good jockeys and work riders at the Closutton Yard Bagenalstown, County Carlow. In my opinion this young jockey has a big career ahead of him and it certainly will not be the last time we hear of him, or see him back in the winner’s enclosure wearing the green and gold of owner Mr. J P McManus. 

Champagne Platinum gives Luke Donnelly his first career success for Enda Bolger

The final race on the card went to post at 4.30pm The P.J. Foley Memorial Flat Race, which was won by Samyr at the price of 4/5 favourite trained by Joseph O’ Brien and ridden to victory by John Gleeson. The Sea The Moon four-year-old gelding owned by Robcour was an impressive eight length winner, and is surely going to be one of the stars of the future for the Piltown trainer in County Kilkenny.