Gilligan lands Thyestes Chase as Jadanli returns to form in spectacular fashion

Galway’s most successful trainer of recent years emerged from a prolonged spell in the doldrums in spectacular fashion last week when stable star Jadanli triumphed in the €80,000 Goffs Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park, one of the most prestigious handicap chases in the Irish racing calendar.

Craughwell-based Paul Gilligan had endured a lengthy lean spell since the heady victories at the Cheltenham and Fairyhouse festivals in the Spring of 2010, but the ex-invalid Jadanli had him beaming with delight as he floored odds of 25/1 when hanging on by a head from another long-shot, Tarquinius, in a frantic finish to the annual showpiece at the Kilkenny venue.

It was Jadanli’s second time in the big race limelight as he had won one of the most important novice chases of the season, the Power Gold Cup, at Fairyhouse three years ago after overcoming a serious tendon injury.

“He’s had plenty of problems. Any time you get a horse back after problems, it’s an achievement in itself. He came back from leg trouble to win the Power Gold Cup, too,” reflected a thrilled Gilligan.

The only Grade 1 winner in the field and, at 11, the veteran contender, Jadanli put a hugely disappointing run in the Welsh Grand National in his previous outing behind him in dramatic fashion when taking up the running heading to the second-last fence and going clear over the last.

But it required all his battling qualities to edge out the gallant runner-up after a nerve-tingling battle up the home straight. A mistake from Tarquinius at the third-last had given Jadanli and Andrew Lynch the upper hand and he just managed to hold on by a head from the renewed challenge of Gordon Elliott’s grey in an absorbing finish to the three mile, one furlong contest in testing conditions.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.