Nick Rockett pips Velvet Elvis to Thyestes Chase win

Nick Rockett soared to a poignant success in the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park.

The eight-year-old was one of five runners in the race for Willie Mullins, with a field of 18 assembling for the three-mile-one-furlong Grade Three contest.

Nick Rockett, who was bidding to give his Closutton stable a 10th victory in the race, was the mount of Paul Townend and the 9-2 joint-favourite alongside Gavin Cromwell's Yeah Man.

Townend took a wide line throughout and into the home straight it was the Cromwell-trained Velvet Elvis who looked to have the most momentum on the other side of the track.

The two horses jumped the penultimate fence in unison before Nick Rockett edged ahead coming into the last, a lead he then lengthened when battling to the line to score by two and a quarter lengths.

Paul Townend and Nick Rockett (9/2 jf) held off the challenge of Velvet Elvis to win the Thyestes Chase for Willie Mullins at Gowran Park pic.twitter.com/8C8oijP4dR

The horse runs in the colours of Stewart and Sadie Andrew, the latter having died in 2022 in the same month Nick Rockett made his bumper debut for his new owners.

The victory was therefore an emotional one for her husband, who said: "Sadie was a local lass from Goresbridge, but sadly died in December 2022. She got to see him run in his first bumper just five days before she passed away.

"This horse has been a fantastic servant and to win here means so much more. It gives me an inner feeling of consolement as it's what Sadie always wanted.

"It would be great to have a runner in the Grand National. He's honest, he jumps well and he stays so that's all you can ask for in a National horse."

Willie Mullins reflects on his tenth Thyestes Chase victory while owner Stewart Andrew says