In a dramatic and heartbreaking turn of events at Gowran Park, rising star jockey Sean Cleary-Farrell saw a major career victory slip from his grasp at the very last moment. The Willie Mullins-trained conditional rider was unseated at the final fence while leading the prestigious Thyestes Chase, allowing Now Is The Hour to snatch a dramatic head victory in a photo-finish.
A Cruel Twist of Fate at the Final Obstacle
Sean Cleary-Farrell, the talented 23-year-old conditional jockey riding for champion trainer Willie Mullins, had produced a masterful performance aboard the 28-1 chance Spanish Harlem throughout the £87,000 Thyestes Chase. Having led nearly all the way in the 3m1f contest, Cleary-Farrell had driven his mount into a commanding two-length lead approaching the final fence, with victory seemingly assured.
Tragically, an awkward jump at that last obstacle propelled the young jockey out of the saddle, ending his hopes of securing what would have been the biggest win of his burgeoning career. The incident was particularly poignant given Cleary-Farrell's family history - his late father, also named Sean Cleary, tragically died in a race fall in 2003, just weeks before the jockey was born.
Now Is The Hour Seizes the Opportunity
With Cleary-Farrell's exit, the race appeared destined for the JP McManus-owned Better Times Ahead, but trainer Gavin Cromwell's Now Is The Hour had other ideas. Ridden by conditional jockey Eoin Staples, the horse produced a powerful late surge to snatch victory by a head in a thrilling photo-finish.
The win marked a significant turnaround for Cromwell, who had endured a torrid season with no winners from his previous 40 runners. "This is unbelievable stuff," the Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer exclaimed. "I wasn't sure if he had won, as it was close. Eoin was very good on him and is great value for his 5lb claim. It is a fantastic race to win and what a difference a day can make!"
Historical Context and Future Prospects
The Thyestes Chase holds significant historical importance in the jumps racing calendar, with previous winners including Nick Rockett, who completed the Thyestes-Grand National double last year, following in the footsteps of Hedgehunter (2005) and Numbersixvalverde (2006).
Following his dramatic victory, Now Is The Hour was immediately cut to 20-1 from 33-1 for the Randox Grand National by bookmaker Coral. However, Cromwell revealed his immediate plans focus on Cheltenham Festival redemption, with the horse set to contest the National Hunt Chase where he fell two fences from home while still in contention last season.
"He again qualifies for the National Hunt Chase so will go straight there, despite having a penalty for winning this," Cromwell explained. "You couldn't have said he was beaten when falling at the second-last at Cheltenham last March and he was a maiden over fences coming here, so it was a nice way to break his maiden tag."
The trainer acknowledged his recent struggles, noting: "There was definitely a period when my horses were out of form, but I had a lot of moderate and badly handicapped ones too, which probably made everything look a lot worse. We didn't get to restock like you'd love to for this season."
Despite the disappointment for Cleary-Farrell, who walked away unharmed from the incident, the dramatic Thyestes Chase provided another chapter in jump racing's rich history of triumph and heartbreak, demonstrating how fortunes can change in the blink of an eye at the highest level of the sport.
