Paul Townend takes wide route to victory in prestigious €100,000 handicap feature
secured a 10th Goffs Thyestes Chase victory at Gowran on Thursday when Nick Rockett successfully made light of a big weight to land the prestigious €100,000 handicap.
If all of it was familiar territory for trainer and jockey it was a notably emotional result in the race that “stops a county” for owner Stewart Andrew whose late wife Sadie was originally from Kilkenny.City Of Troy and Laurel River share world’s best horse honoursAndrew was not alone in immediately looking forward to a potential tilt at the Aintree National in April, with some layers slashing Nick Rockett’s Liverpool odds to 16/1.
“To me today was the day – it was a tremendous performance. With a horse like him you like to think they get a chance of one big handicap during a season and what a race to win. Now we’ll probably look forward to Fairyhouse or Aintree. He’ll be entered in everything,” said Mullins. Declan Queally didn’t rule out a tilt at the Stayers crown at Cheltenham for which Rocky’s Diamond is a 16/1 shot with some firms. “He’s only five, clear-winded, great heart and stays forever – a brilliant horse. He has an entry in the Stayers’ Hurdle. He’s cool, doesn’t get overexcited so you wouldn’t rule it out. I think a better gallop would suit him, but he did well there off slow fractions,” said Queally.
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