Mullins, Townend bid to boost Thyestes record with Captain Cody

January 21, 2026

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend will hope to continue their fine partnership in the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase with Captain Cody.

The champion jockey and trainer have combined to win this race on three occasions since 2014 and Townend, with the pick of the bunch from Closutton, opted for Captain Cody.

The eight-year-old was last seen finishing seventh in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas off top weight and Townend told the stewards after he was not happy with the standing start.

Previously Captain Cody began the season with a third to exciting novice chaser Romeo Coolio in the Grade 1 Drinmore at Fairyhouse, around seven months after landing the biggest prize of his career in the Scottish Grand National.

He won that with plenty in hand under a cool, confident ride from Harry Cobden who only got moving on his mount from the back of the last fence.

Extended trips certainly are his bag and the son of Arctic Cosmos is in here off 150, unchanged from Leopardstown and Townend’s vote of confidence is a huge plus.

He was a Grade 2 winner over hurdles in 2024, finished a good sixth in a strong 2023 Champion Bumper and is without question a very smart chaser.

Heavy ground won’t be of any inconvenience to his chances and it’s not hard to see why he takes his place at the top of the market.

If triumphant, Townend will become the outright most successful rider in Thyestes history with four wins, surpassing current assistant trainer to Mullins, David Casey.

The Cork jockey won the race last year on subsequent Grand National hero Nick Rockett alongside victories on Carefully Selected (2023) and On His Own (2014).

Captain Cody wins the @Coral Scottish Grand National for @WillieMullinsNH and @CobdenHarry 🏆@ayrracecourse pic.twitter.com/xN5WGfJaKO

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 12, 2025

Willie Mullins is the most successful trainer in Thyestes history

It’s no surprise that Mullins likely holds all the aces here and following an up-and-down start to the season he’s enjoying a strong run of form since the new year, tallying 18 winners from his last 54 runners (33% strike rate).

Since 1988, Mullins has trained ten Thyestes winners: 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) and Nick Rockett (2025).

He’s got plenty of other chances in this field too alongside Captain Cody, headed by the Danny Mullins-partnered High Class Hero.

He was last seen running well in a good handicap chase at Punchestown in November, he should come on plenty for that effort and has valuable experience in races of this nature.

Third in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April, he was also runner-up in a Grade 3 novice chase at Thurles a month prior and finished second to Dancing City in the Grade 1 3m novice hurdle at Punchestown in May 2024.

Brian Hayes gets the ride on Quai De Bourbon, the ante-post favourite for this race before jockey bookings were confirmed and he’s got a very interesting profile.

The seven-year-old was pulled up when 3/1 favourite in the Troytown at Navan in November but third in the Irish Grand National was an excellent performance and he was in the process of running a huge race in the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree in the spring before being brought down.