Djakadam earns Willie Mullins a sixth Thyestes triumph

Willie Mullins landed an incredible sixth win in the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park as Djakadam sauntered to victory.

Sent off favourite for the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November, he appeared not to stay the trip that day but Mullins believed it was more to do with race fitness.

Always highly regarded, punter confidence in him apparently waned before the off as Tony Martin’s Gallant Oscar overtook him at the head of the betting and he was sent off at 9-2 under top weight.

Jessica Harrington’s Sadler’sflaure made a bold bid from the front, but with half a mile to run Ruby Walsh was edging closer on Djakadam.

A faller four out when still going well in the JLT at Cheltenham last year, he was foot perfect on this occasion.

The Job Is Right was his only danger in the straight and while he fell at the last, Walsh had still to ask for everything.

My Murphy stayed on for second to be beaten eight lengths, with Goonyella third and the 3-1 favourite Gallant Oscar fourth.

Mullins said: “It’s fantastic to win the race six times. It took me long enough to win my first one. On His Own won this off top weight and was only just beaten in a Gold Cup so we’ll have to think of going the same way with this horse.

“We always thought he could be a Gold Cup horse. It was probably an unfair question to ask him in the Hennessy on his first run of the season but we felt he was nicely handicapped.

“That race will take a fair bit out of him so he wouldn’t run between now and Cheltenham. The way he travelled and jumped was great, and I don’t think Ruby had a moment’s worry.”

The impressive winner was cut to a general price of 20-1 for the Gold Cup.

Dedigout won a thrilling renewal of the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle from Monksland.

Three of the five runners still held every chance over the final two flights, with long-time leader Zaidpour also in with a shout.

As they approached the last Dedigout looked to be coming with a race-winning run but he put in an extra stride and lost some momentum.

In contrast, Noel Meade’s Monksland absolutely pinged the final flight and went a couple of lengths clear.

Tony Martin's Dedigout is nothing if not game, though, and Bryan Cooper as sensed Monksland was running on empty he galvanised the 7-2 chance close home.

They crossed the line virtually as one, but the judge came down in favour of Dedigout by a short head as Briar Hill dropped away in the straight.

Martin said: “He cracked a knee at Fairyhouse in the Hatton’s Grace and was out for a year. He ran well at Christmas – that brought him on enough and he was able to do himself justice today.

“He’ll get an easy week after this and we’ll see how he is in a fortnight’s time and take it from there. He’d only run at Cheltenham if the ground was soft.

“He’s a bit like Bog Warrior, they are horses that are stuck together with cellotape!”

Boylesports left Monksland unchanged at 12-1 for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle but slashed the winner to 20-1 (from 50s), with Briar Hill pushed out to 20s (from 14-1).

Cooper said: “I met the second-last and the last wrong really and it’s hard to get your momentum back up when you do that in heavy ground, but to be fair to him he picked up well to the line.

“He was there turning in at Leopardstown and missed the last that day.

“I sat on him last week and he was flying. Heavy ground is the key, but fair play to Tony for getting him back.

“Tony likes his horses to be ridden from the back and he fills you with confidence.

“We won’t see too much of him on good ground.”

Dicosimo defied a late drift in the market to make a winning Irish debut in the Nugent Spirit 25 Horsebox Hurdle.

Forecast to go off at long odds-on, the Mullins-trained juvenile was weak in the betting and went out to 4-6 favourite in a race won by subsequent Grade One winner Abbyssial 12 months ago.

Walsh was positive from the outset on the French import but he looked to be in a bit of trouble as Thunder Zone and Prussian Eagle loomed up.

The favourite found plenty for pressure, though, and despite not being fluent at some of his hurdles, Dicosimo was going away strongly at the finish to beat Prussian Eagle by seven and a half lengths.

He was introduced into the Triumph Hurdle betting at 16-1 by Paddy Power.

The Mullins-Walsh and owner Rich Ricci axis was expected to double up with Royal Caviar in the Langton House Hotel Maiden Hurdle but he had to settle for second behind Cliff House.

Royal Caviar pulled hard early but still looked to be travelling better than anything in the straight, although John Joe Walsh’s former smart Flat horse was still in touch.

And when Brian O’Connell pounced, the 9-2 chance came clear to win impressively by three and a half lengths.

Dick Dundee (8-1) came with a late rattle to win the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle for Paul Nolan.

Maguire’s Glen picked up between the last two and went clear, seemingly on his way to glory.

However, Dick Dundee, better known for his exploits over fences, stayed on stoutly for Luke Dempsey to win by half a length.