Racing:Jadanli held off the rallying Tarquinius to land another big prize in the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park.
A former winner of the Grade One Powers Gold Cup back in 2010, the 10-year-old, sent off a 25 to 1 chance, had been without a win in the interim and was pulled up in the Welsh National when he last ran.
But reunited with Andrew Lynch he was always travelling well and seemed to have the race won when going clear at the second-last, only for Tarquinius to battle back strongly under Davy Condon and in the end the winning distance was just a head. Panther Claw ran on for third with Sole Witness fourth.
It was also a welcome return to the big time for trainer Paul Gilligan, who tasted success at the Cheltenham Festival when Berties Dream won the 2010 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
The Westener Boy and Bishopsfurze were early casualties for Tony McCoy and Ruby Walsh respectively.
Gilligan said: “It’s a nice pot to win. Andrew said he was idling all the way up the straight. We put cheekpieces on him today because he’s getting older and getting wiser to the game.
“Saying that, he’s a good, tough old warrior. He’s had his problems and anytime you get a horse back to win a race, be it a Thyestes or any race, is an achievement in itself.
“He came back from leg trouble to win the Powers Gold Cup so we’ll see how he is in the morning.
“All these races help, but when you are a small yard it is nearly always forgotten and that makes it better.”