Jadanli wins the Thyestes© Photo Healy Racing
Jadanli just held on in a driving finish to the Goffs Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park this afternoon.
An action packed feature event turned into a duel in the closing stages as Jadanli clung on grimly from a last gasp lunge by Tarquinius in the €80,000 contest.
Paul Gilligan's charge was hitting the headlines again having been a Grade One winner as a novice when landing the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse in 2010.
The 11-year-old was sent off a 25/1 shot today having been pulled up in the Welsh National on his last outing.
Andrew Lynch got a great tune from his mount as he travelled sweetly into contention before the home turn.
He hit the front approaching the third last and was pressed by Tarquinius, who pecked on landing.
Gordon Elliott 's charge, also sent off at 25/1, looked booked for second heading to the last but knuckled down gamely on the run-in and just failed by a head to grab the spoils.
It was a welcome big race win for Galway handler Gilligan who admitted afterwards that his stable had been through some rough times.
“He's run 29 times and been in the money 18. His run in the Welsh National was absolutely super. I think better fancied horses than him pulled up before him. He deserved a win,” said the trainer, who handles the gelding for his father Eamon.
“He'll get an entry for the Irish National and I'll aim him towards that more so than Aintree. He'll also be entered there but the ground might be too good for him.
“We've had a rough time of it but it's a game that me, my wife Natalie and the kids love.
“We had some very good owners but also some bad ones and thankfully the very good ones have stuck with us through the years and I can't thank them enough.”
The Westener Boy was the gamble of the race, backed from 10/1 in the morning, and sent of 4/1 joint favourite. He was an early casualty under Tony McCoy while the other market leader Outlaw Pete (also owned by JP McManus) was never involved in a moderate sixth.
(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
