'It'd be nice to win another big one with him - hopefully it will be this one!'

The Goffs Thyestes Chase is one of the very few big jumps races in Ireland to have eluded Noel Meade in his illustrious career but the trainer he is hoping Diol Ker can change that next week.

A total of 31 entries were revealed on Monday for the feature race of the year at Gowran Park and Meade is responsible for four of them.

Diol Ker was a close-up fourth in the race last year and is on course for another crack at the €100,000 contest on Thursday week following his near-miss in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas when he went down by a short-head to Real Steel.

Meade said: "I'd say Diol Ker will probably run. He wasn't beaten far in the race last year and ran a cracker at Leopardstown over Christmas so I'd imagine we will head to Gowran with him now.

"He won the Leinster National at Naas last year but it would be nice to win another nice prize with him and hopefully it will be this one! I've always thought he was a very nice horse."

Reflecting on his narrow defeat in the Paddy Power, Meade said: "I watched the race in the stand and I knew I was beaten. The worst thing of all is when you come back down from the stand after a big race and think you have won only to find out you haven't! Now that's hard to take.

"If anybody was to beat me I was delighted it was Eric [McNamara]. We've been great friends for years and I was absolutely delighted for him."

Lieutenant Command: may also represent Noel Meade in the Thyestes ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann

While Diol Ker will head up Meade's team in the Thyestes, he could also be represented by Lieutenant Command. Farceur Du Large and Eurobot are not certain starters at this stage.

Meade said: "I'd say there is every chance Lieutenant Command will run, but I'm not sure the ground at Gowran would suit Farceur Du Large. We might give it a miss with him."

The powerhouse stables of Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins are responsible for 19 of the 31 entries. Elliott has 11 of those, including previous winner Coko Beach, Porterstown Handicap Chase winner Punitive, Escaria Ten, Dunboyne and Pencilfulloflead.

Mullins has eight to choose from and among them is last year's runner-up Franco De Port as well as Saturday's Warwick Classic Chase second Mr Incredible, Captain Kangaroo and Carefully Selected.

Gowran manager Eddie Scally said: "We are gearing up for a very special day on Thursday week and as always, the Goffs Thyestes Chase is central to a fantastic day’s racing. It is a huge event for our local community and for the county as a whole. The entries for the race are typically strong and we are delighted with them. We can’t wait to be up and running."

Goffs Thyestes Chase (Gowran Park, January 26)

Paddy Power: 7 Diol Ker, Escaria Ten, Franco De Port, 8 Pencilfulloflead, 9 Darrens Hope, 10 Mr Incredible, Donkey Years, 12 Carefully Selected, 14 bar

Read this next . . .

'Our guy will need to bring his A-game' – Energumene camp wary of Edwardstone (£)

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday