Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

THE 2026 edition of the Goffs Thyestes Chase certainly was not for the faint hearted, and Now Is The Hour got his timing just right on a day that spelled a real turnaround in fortunes for Gavin Cromwell’s season.

An early exit for gambled-on favourite Captain Cody (7/2 from 15/2) at the fifth fence was the first sign of the heartache to come later in the piece, with Spanish Harlem in command at the last when dramatically parting company with 7lb claimer Sean Cleary-Farrell. The Kerry National winner, sent off at 28/1 for another upset win, was trading as low as 2/9 in-running at the time of his departure.

That left long-range favourite Better Times Ahead (SP 17/2) with the race at his mercy, and he looked set to collect for nearly the entirety of the run-in. It would have been quite the win for Mark Walsh in the J.P. McManus silks just over a week on from news of Harry Cobden being announced as the champion owner’s new retained rider.

However, Eoin Staples - arguably the claiming find of the season in Ireland with his current 5lb allowance - had something to say about that. He never relented on Cromwell’s unfortunate faller in last year’s National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, and - despite not being ovelry clean at his fences - ploughed his way through the mud to nail Robert Tyner’s charge on the line.

On attritional, heavy ground, the 8/1 winner emerged on top by a head in a finish where Better Times Ahead traded at the shortest possible in-running odds of 1/100.

Cromwell had entered the day on a 50-runner losing streak in Ireland, without a winner in 2026, yet he departed Gowran Park with the lion’s share of the €100,000 prize and a treble on the card. It might be just what he needs to kickstart a big spring for the stable.

“I wasn't sure if he had won - it was obviously close - but what a difference a day can make,” said Cromwell, celebrating his first win in the race alongside the jubilant BDS Syndicate from Cork.

"You couldn't have said he was beaten when falling at the second last at Cheltenham last year, and he ran well in the Paddy Power when fourth last time. He was a maiden coming here, so this is a nice way to shed his maiden tag.

Perfect conditions

"Today is the first time he got the ground as testing as he wants since he won a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Haydock back in February 2024. We were glad to see the rain.

“He again qualifies for the National Hunt Chase again this year so he’ll probably go straight there. He’ll have a penalty for winning this, but we’ll give him a crack at it. He’ll have an entry for the Grand National too, but the ground would be something to think about for him there.”

Cromwell added: “We finished second in this race last year [with Velvet Elvis], it’s a big part of the calendar and these races have a huge history. It’s great to have your name on the cup.

“If this horse doesn't do anything else, he has been fantastic for us. We’ve been on the cold list for a while, so this is well appreciated too. Eoin is good value for his claim, improving all the time. He’s a confident guy and a nice fella."

Staples, a native of Wexford who caught the eye in point-to-points last season when sharing the INHSC novice rider series title, also appreciated the magnitude of winning such a prestigious handicap so early in his career.

“It’s unbelievable. I grew up looking at this race - I'm only from about an hour down the road - and it’s a big thing in the south east,” said Staples.

Cromwell support

“To get an opportunity to even ride in it is huge, but to go and win it is unbelievable. A big thanks to Gavin and his owners for giving me an opportunity. He’s been supporting me well all year and to get a big one for him, I’m delighted to be able to pay back a small bit.”

On how the race unfolded, he added: “I got a grand start; the main thing was to get him into a rhythm and it took a while. It wasn’t until about a mile that I was happy. I tracked wide everywhere - I tracked Keith [Donoghue on stablemate Yeah Man] everywhere - and once I got into a rhythm he was dynamite.

“Down over the last three, the strides weren’t coming for me and I started to panic a bit, but he’s as tough as nails and he ground it out well. From the back of the last, he really put down his head for me.”

While entries have yet to be made for the race, Now Is The Hour is now ante-post favourite for the National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase at 10/1 (from 12/1) with William Hill.

From a field of 18 runners, there were just five finishers in this year’s Thyestes, with a total of 10 pulled-up. Thankfully, Pied Piper was reported to have walked away from a heavy fall at the third last fence. His admirable stablemate Shecouldbeanything completed the frame in third at 33/1, 19 lengths behind the first two.