Not seen since winning a brace of three-year-old hurdles last October, QUILIXIOS made an emphatic reappearance to extend his unbeaten record for Gordon Elliott in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle. Quilixios made smooth headway turning for home under Jack Kennedy to bear down upon the long time leader Saint Sam. He took up the running two furlongs from home and asserted his dominance on the approach to the final flight, eventually coasting home for a five and a half length victory.
Quilixios will now target the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival where he is set to clash with his fellow stablemate Zanahiyr, who is also unbeaten over hurdles.
Also at Leopardstown on the second day of the Dublin Racing Festival was the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle, in which Gordon Elliott’s Ballyadam was a very promising runner-up to Appreciate It. Ballyadam was running for the first time since scoping poorly at Christmas and can hopefully progress between now and the Cheltenham Festival, where he is likely re-oppose Appreciate It in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.