2023 Thyestes Handicap Tips - Odds and predictions for Thurles' main event

Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins have won seven of the last 11 renewals of the Thyestes between them, and they account for three-quarters of this field. Willie Mullins' challenge is spearheaded by 11-year-old Carefully Selected. Gordon Elliott runs nine in total, with Pencilfulloflead and Escaria Ten currently sitting first and third in the market.

The springer in the betting in recent days has been Barry Connell's Espanito Bello, who was a well-beaten fifth on his only start of the season so far over hurdles. Robert Murphy runs Grade Two winning mare Darrens Hope against the geldings. Emmet McNamara and Henry De Bromhead will be represented by Donkey Years and Gabbys Cross respectively.

Gordon Elliott has won this handicap twice in the last four years and he's clearly had the Thyestes in mind for PENCILFULLOFLEAD, who was one of the best novice chasers in Ireland back in 2020/21.

Following a narrow victory over Coko Beach - who won this handicap the following year - at Galway, Pencilfulloflead thrashed the classy Latest Exhibition to win a Grade Two at Punchestown, before a narrow defeat to future Cheltenham Festival and Punchestown heroine, Colreevy in the Grade One at Limerick. On his final novice start, Elliott's charge stayed on well to finish third over the Thyestes distance at Naas, when giving eight pounds to the classy pair of Eklat De Rire and Escaria Ten.

Pencilfulloflead ran just once last season, falling at the half-way stage as L'Homme Presse won a graduation chase at Ascot. Despite a lengthy absence, Elliott pitched his nine-year-old into the Clonmel Oil Chase on his return to action in November and - although he got outpaced in the closing stages of that two-and-a-half-mile trip and made a bad error at the second-last - Rachael Blackmore's mount plugged on right through the line to finish just eight lengths adrift of Blue Lord and Tornado Flyer.

Elliott's gelding has had two months to get over that return run and cheek-pieces will go on for the first time on Thursday. Top amateur rider, Rob James has also been booked for the ride, meaning Pencilfulloflead - who clocked RPRs of 159 three times as a novice - will effectively be running off 143 on what will be his handicap debut.