Paul Jacobs / 12 January 2010 Free Bet View Market

"Heading the Thyestes Chase market is the upwardly mobile young chaser Beroni ([6.6]). The eight-year-old has won two of his seven starts over the larger obstacles and was ante-post favourite for the Welsh National before side stepping that stamina sapping test."

An impressive winner over hurdles since, he is rightfully top of the market despite his rise in the weights and I have him two points clear on my private ratings."

With all-weather action dominating racing on both sides of the Irish Sea, the next major race worthy of an ante-post pitch on turf is the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park next week over three miles.

It's a contest that is usually a real grind through the deep ground and has proved the perfect test for Priests Leap ([20.0]), winner of the last two renewals.

Tom O'Leary's charge obviously enjoys this test, but will have his work cut out this year to complete the hat-trick especially as there is arguably a much better strength in depth entry than the last in the few years.

Heading the market is the upwardly mobile young chaser Beroni ([6.6]). The eight-year-old has won two of his seven starts over the larger obstacles and was ante-post favourite for the Welsh National before side stepping that stamina sapping test.

An impressive winner over hurdles since, he is rightfully top of the market despite his rise in the weights and I have him two points clear on my private ratings. There is little doubt he could start at least half the odds of his current price on the day of the race.

Offshore Account ([60.0]) is a horse I have long thought could win a race of this nature and he is way too big a price to ignore. He showed his class in the Grand National when leading the field a merry dance until between the third and second last before crying enough.

He was far from disgraced behind The Package at Cheltenham, the undulating track just doesn't suit his style of racing, and much better handicapped in Ireland, a clear round would surely see him go close to reaching the frame at the very least.

Second favourite Footy Facts ([10.0]) is improving at a rate of knots as victories over fences and hurdles have indicated on his last two outings, but I'm not entirely sure that this kind of slog is what he needs and I prefer two horses at bigger odds in the form of Lochan Lacha ([10.5]) and Arbor Supreme ([25.0]).

The last named was being touted as the Mullins main National hope last season but never really fulfilled his potential.

Shown a bit of mercy this year by the handicapper, he has every chance at the weights to improve on his good third here last year when he was outpaced at a critical stage of the race before running on again in the final quarter mile.

Lochan Lacha would arguably have gone very close to landing the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas but for unseating his rider two out and is another viable alternative in a fascinating renewal.