Thyestes beckons again for Jadanli
Paul Gilligan’s inmate finished third behind On His Own in the much-coveted three-mile handicap in 2012 and is to return to the County Kilkenny circuit for another go.
Jadanli was pulled up in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow last Saturday, having travelled promisingly for much of the race.
Galway-based Gilligan said: “He has never had to race at that kind of speed before (in the Welsh National), and his jumping was not as fluent as it can be, but I thought he was going to be placed for a long way.
“He just got tired at the second-last and Alain (Cawley, jockey) did the right thing to pull him up.
“He’s come out of it well, though, and we’ll aim him now at the Thyestes at the end of the month.
“He was third in it last year and if he can run as well as he did at Chepstow for three miles, he’ll finish in the money.”
Meanwhile trainer Liam Cusack will consider the Topham Chase at Aintree for Last Time D’Albain, who ran such a big race in the Paddy Power Chase over Christmas.
The eight-year-old gelding finished a staying-on third behind Colbert Station in the valuable handicap at Leopardstown.
He will now return to the Dublin circuit for the Leopardstown Handicap Chase - won last year by John Smith’s Grand National third Seabass – at the end of the month, after which Aintree could come calling.
“We were very happy with him over Christmas,” said Cusack, who hails from County Laois.
“That was the first time he’d gone over three miles since his point-to-point days, so it was good he stayed.
“I don’t think we’d be going further than that (three miles), and, at the moment, I’m looking at going back to Leopardstown for the Leopardstown Chase over two miles and five at the end of the month.
“I’ve also got Aintree and Topham at the back of my mind as he’s a very good, very solid jumper who travels well in his races.
“He’s the highest-rated horse we’ve had.”
