10/1 shot Coko Beach land the Thyestes Chase in style at Gowran Park

The  Gordon Elliott trained Coko Beach has won the biggest race on Kilkenny’s racing calendar, the Thyestes Chase.

The highlight of the racing year at Gowran Park was won in dramatic fashion by the 10/1 shot ridden by Jack Kennedy.

The €100,000 three-mile handicap chase, a good indicator of a horse’s fitness and form on their way to Cheltenham, had 18 horses going to post.

But the race came down to a battle over the last two fences between Coko Beach, his stablemate Run Wild Fred, and the Willie Mullins trained Class Conti.

Coko Beach’s jumping was too strong for the others and came in a handy three lengths ahead of Run Wild Fred.

Just six of the 18 horses finished the race, in what were testing conditions and the beautifully turned out Kilkenny track.