The Thyestes Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunthandicapsteeplechase run in Ireland. It takes place at Gowran Park Racecourse, Gowran, County Kilkenny in January, over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong (5029 metres). There are 17 fences to be jumped. The race is often contested by horses who go on to run in the Grand National and has been won since 2004 by three horses who have gone on to win the Aintree event: Hedgehunter, Numbersixvalverde and Nick Rockett. The most famous winners of the race were Arkle (1964) and Flyingbolt (1966). It currently has a maximum field of 18 runners. The race is sponsored by bloodstock auctioneers Goffs.
The Thyestes Trophy was presented to the Kilkenny Show by Major Dermot McCalmont for a 5-year-old likely to make a good hunter. The trophy was won by a horse owned by Mr John McEnery of Rossenarra Stud, Kells, County Kilkenny and ridden by his son Martin. The McEnery family then presented it to Gowran Park for the first running of the Thyestes Chase in 1954.[1][2][3]
Willie Mullins – Micko's Dream (2000), Hedgehunter (2004), Homer Wells (2007), On His Own (2012, 2014), Djakadam (2015), Invitation Only (2019), Total Recall (2020), Carefully Selected (2023), Nick Rockett (2025)
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