Janidil and Rachael Blackmore © Photo Healy Racing
Janidil swooped under a well-timed ride from Rachael Blackmore to land the spoils in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park this afternoon.
Last season's Ryanair Chase runner-up was making his first start of the campaign having disappointed when last seen at Punchestown last April.
He went to post 7/2 second choice behind stablemate Haut En Couleurs in the two-and-a-half mile chase where Willie Mullins saddled three of the four runners.
4/6 favourite Haut En Couleurs travelled well to lead three out but came under pressure going to the next.
Blackmore, who had sat last on her mount for most of the race, came to challenge two from home.
Janidil got on top from the hotpot running to the final fence and despite an untidy leap there the nine-year-old stayed on strongly on the run-in to record a length-and-a-quarter success.
"It was a nice comeback for Janidil and he was straighter than I thought he was. It puts him right in the Ryanair picture I think and he is a little further advanced that I thought he was on his homework. It was a nice surprise,” said Mullins.
"It is always nice to win this Red Mills race and we feed nothing else!"
He added: "I thought it was a slow enough pace early on and Rachael got a good tune out of him over the last three fences.
"I am happy enough with Haut En Couleurs as well and whether or not he goes to the Ryanair or not I don't know but we'd have to supplement him for it. That is a possible target but we'll see.
"The trip was too short for Capodanno and I could have waited until next week for the Bobbyjo Chase but I wanted to get a run out out of the way quicker. He is in the Gold Cup and is also in Aintree (Grand National) so we'll have a chat with connections and think about it."
After watching Shishkin’s Ascot Chase demolition, Mullins told Racing TV: “Looking at Shishkin on the TV, that’s got to put him in as (Ryanair) favourite, that was a huge performance.”
Rachael Blackmore: "it was a very good performance and that trip suits him perfectly. He is a high class horse who seems to run well fresh and it was a help today."
(Quotes by Tom Weekes)
