EDDIE and Patrick Harty are setting their sights on notching their biggest win since embarking on a joint-training licence together, as Grandero Bello is said to look “fantastic” ahead of his tilt at the Goffs Thyestes Chase on January 23rd.

Entries for the Grade 3 handicap chase, worth €100,000, were published this week and the 2021 winner Coko Beach looks set to top the weights off a mark of 153, followed by Paddy Power Chase fourth Nick Rockett off 152. Gordon Elliott (10) and Willie Mullins (six) combined are responsible for more than half of the 30 entries, with the Mouse Morris’ talented French Dynamite (149) another of the top-rated entrants.

The Hartys’ sole contender, owned by Robert Caddick and Josie Reed, could be a fascinating player, though. Their lightly raced nine-year-old is a course winner with a liking for testing ground and looked as good as ever when winning on his seasonal reappearance at Galway in October.

Reflecting on his eighth in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury last time, Patrick Harty told The Irish Field: “I think we’re putting his run down to the [good to soft] ground probably being quicker than he wants. He was just a little bit outpaced all the way and was brave to be able to get into a challenging position.

“When he jumped the fourth last, we began to get excited, but the petrol gauge just began to run out from the back of the third last. He’d been doing all his work trying to keep tabs and get into a position in those conditions.”

Going edge

A ready beginners’ chase winner at Gowran last season, Grandero Bello could be suited by what is often easy ground for Gowran Park’s premier National Hunt prize. You have to go back to 2006 to find a Thyestes Chase that wasn’t run on soft or heavier ground.

“I don’t think typical Thyestes Chase day ground would be a disadvantage to him,” said Harty.

“I remember reading in the past that all of his wins have come on right-handed tracks and while I’m not really reading hugely into that, it’s not a negative anyway. He’s in great form and looks fantastic. He’s had a nice chance to freshen up since Newbury. Letting steam off after that is no harm when you’ve got to do plenty to have him ready for a big test like that.”

He added: “For his age, he’s relatively unexposed; especially so over three miles. He was great at Galway but the handicapper didn’t miss him by raising him 7lb, and then the BHA handicapper gave him a few extra pounds at Newbury. At least we’re back to our Irish mark of 144 now. Hopefully he can run to it or above it.”

Another of the stable’s flagbearers, the J.P. McManus-owned Harvard Guy, has yet to be seen this season.

Harty said: “He’s had a couple of little niggly things. We don’t have anything in mind for him immediately but hopefully he’ll be seen this spring. He’s still a nice horse to look forward to.”