CONNOLLY’S Red Mills sponsored racing at Gowran Park at the weekend, underwriting the gate on the day and ensuring that all who attended did so for free. They appended their name to a couple of the races too, and the best of these was the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase.

The race was a bonanza for trainer Willie Mullins, successful with JP McManus’ Janidil, but the Closutton master also saddled the pair who followed the winner home.

After surprising connections a little with the manner of his win, Janidil has certainly put himself forward as a leading challenger for the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, a race in which he was runner-up last year to Allaho. Could he go one better this time?

A smart hurdler who won a Grade A race ay Fairyhouse, Janidil was back at that Co Meath venue two years ago to add the Grade 1 Underwriting Exchange Gold Cup Novice Chase at Easter. After that he kept coming up against a star, and hadn’t won since then until obliging at the weekend. His past performances, when at his best, would certainly give him a chance in the Cotswolds.

The sire of Janidil is Indian Daffodil, a Group 3 winner by Hernando (Niniski), and this year breeders will be able to use the 18-year-old for just €1,500 in France. Also sire of the smart cross-country gelding Daffodil Rose, a nine-time winner, Indian Daffodil has had many homes since he went to stud, and he stopped covering for two years due to an administrative dispute.

What a pity he didn’t get a better chance, as he comes from the same female line that has given us Poliglote (Sadler’s Wells), and Grade 1 winning hurdler and chaser Footpad (Creachadoir).

No shortage

On the dam side of the family, there is no shortage of blacktype winners over jumps, though the talent skipped one generation.

Janidil’s dam Janidouce (Kaldounevees) won four times over jumps in France, and she was one of five winners out of her dam Majanie (Cyborg). None of the others showed any talent, and Majanie herself ran 23 times and only managed to be placed a few times.

This lack of success was in contrast to what had happened in the next two generations of the family. Majanie had three blacktype winning siblings, two in France Majadal (Cadoudal) and Turthen (Turgeon), and Majadou (Cadoudal) in England. The latter’s five chase wins were highlighted by his success at Cheltenham in the Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup.

Another of that trio’s siblings was Janidou (Cadoudal), and that Arthur Moore-trained, JP McManus-owned gelding carried Conor O’Dwyer to a third place finish in the hugely competitive Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown 21 years ago.

Two sisters of Majanie bred graded chase winners, Majamone (Carmont) being responsible for the multiple Grade 3 winner Doumaja (Cadoudal), while Majae (Dom Pasquini) bred the British Grade 2 winner Majala (Lavirco).

Fil Dor

Fil Dor impressed on his chasing debut last year, was third in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas, but after a disappointing third run over the larger obstacle, Gordon Elliott switched the five-year-old back to hurdles at the weekend.

The move paid dividends when Fil Dor beat Sharjah is a thrilling finish to the Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle. This was his third win at this level over hurdles, and it would seem that he will stay over hurdles for now. The well-bred son of Doctor Dino (Muhtathir) is closely related to A Plus Tard (Kapgarde), and Joey Logan secured him for €88,000 as a two-year-old at Arqana on behalf of Andy and Gemma Brown who race as Caldwell Construction Ltd.

Fil Dor was placed on his only start on the flat in France the following year before moving to Gordon Elliott. He turned into one of our best juvenile hurdlers, starting off with three successes which included the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown and a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse. He didn’t manage to win again over hurdles until the weekend, finishing second to Vauban in three Grade 1s, including the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Fil Dor’s sire stands for €20,000 in France. Doctor Dino features regularly on these pages, thanks to the exploits of the aforementioned Sharjah, Sceau Royal, La Bague Au Roi and leading Champion Hurdle fancy State Man, all Grade 1 National Hunt winners. Doctor Dino was twice a Group 1 winner in Hong Kong, and won a Grade 1 at Belmont Park in the USA.

Fil Dor was bred by Antonia Devin, and she, with her husband Henri, have utilised Doctor Dino to great effect with this family. A son of the unraced La Turbale (Ange Gabriel), Fil Dor is a full-brother to the listed flat winner Style Icon (Doctor Dino), and they are two of their dam’s three winners, the other being the listed Auteuil chase winner Le Lude (Turgeon).

La Turbale is a half-sister to three winners, notably the multiple Grade 1 and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and runner-up, A Plus Tard (Kapgarde). They are out of the five-time jumps winner Turboka (Kahyasi). Her half-sister L’Aubonniere (Doctor Dino) won a Grade 3 chase at Auteuil, and Dottore (Doctor Dino) was successful in a listed chase at the same venue. They are among eight winners from the multiple stakes winner and group-placed Turbotiere (Turgeon).