Djakadam a natural in Killiney

The Paul Townend-ridden, Mrs Susannah Ricci-owned Djakadam had his trainer Willie Mullins excited after he landed the Grade 2 Boylesports.com Killiney Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Mullins, completing a double, after Annie Power's victory at Doncaster, said: "He is just such a natural jumper. He loves his jumping and he was absolutely bursting to get away from Paul.

"I don't know whether it was right or wrong for Paul to pull him back behind the one in front because he wanted to get on about his job and he's just so natural. I think he probably would have got lengths at fences if he let him off but Paul was on board – I wasn't.

"I thought we made a mistake down the back after Paul pulling him back out of the race but he was on board and he decided that was the best thing to do at that stage.

"We'll have to see what we're going to do in future with him but he's just such a natural jumper and galloper and it's very hard to get a horse like that.

"For a horse having his second run over fences I thought it was fantastic and I didn't think he should have made a mistake."

After eventually getting to the front soon after the last, Djakadam saw off Bright New Dawn by four lengths with seventeen lengths and thirty eight lengths back to the Noel Meade-trained pair, Mullaghanoe River and Road To Riches (AM & EM)