Elliott off the mark as super Quilixios blows away Spring Juvenile rivals

Gordon Elliott had farmed nine of the first 45 Dublin Racing Festival races up to this year but it took him nine races to get off the mark for 2021, with Quilixios eventually obliging by stylishly justifying skimpy odds in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle to strengthen the stable’s grip on the Triumph Hurdle market.

With fellow Triumph hopeful Zanahiyr and Envoi Allen among some of Elliott’s more exalted names absent from Leopardstown, he didn’t target the two-day gala with the sort of loaded heavy artillery as Willie Mullins. That was a point he made in the debrief, with none of his previous 15 runners having returned an SP shorter than 7-1, and only three of that 15 starting at single-figure odds.

Click here to watch Quilixios extend his unbeaten record

However, the market spoke in favour of Quilixios, and he didn’t disappoint. Backed from 11-10 into 4-6 on his first outing since landing odds of 1-16 at Down Royal on October 31, the likeable son of Maxios found plenty for pressure under Jack Kennedy to chase down the pace-setting Saint Sam and lead on the turn for home.

From there, he readily stretched five and a half lengths clear of Saint Sam, with Busselton back in third. The Cheveley Park-owned Quilixios is now 5-1 from 8-1 with Paddy Power to thwart Noel and Valerie Moran’s Zanahiyr in the Triumph after extending his unbeaten record to three in professional fashion.

Quilixios pulls clear of Saint Sam at LeopardstownCredit: Patrick McCann

“He was probably the first horse we thought really had a chance of winning this weekend,” Elliott admitted subsequently. “Yesterday, we’d have needed luck to have a winner, so it is a relief because he is the first one we fancied. If he got beat, my head would be on the ground.”

The trainer confirmed that both Quilixios and Zanahiyr would likely be aimed at the Triumph. He also indicated how pleased he was to produce a first Grade 1 success for the Cheveley Park operation since the death of David Thompson.

“They’ve been big supporters of the yard,” he said of the Newmarket-based firm. He added: “We are lucky to have the two juveniles we have, and both of them are more than just juveniles – they are horses for next year as well.”

The victory was also a first of the weekend for Jack Kennedy, who may yet have the first world problem of choosing between the two Triumph market leaders, with Zanahiyr currently a top-priced 11-4 favourite.

Triumph Hurdle full card and betting

“That was brilliant. He did it very well," Kennedy said of Quilixios.

“He jumped great, although he made a little mistake at the third-last when I was asking for a big one to get a bit closer to Danny [Mullins on Saint Sam] but he did it well in the end.”

Asked how the two emerging stars compared, he responded: “I’d say Zanahiyr would be a speedier horse than Quilixios maybe.”

Speed, of course, isn't all that's required to triumph in a Triumph. Quilixios isn't short of it either, and he exhibits an admirable tenacity in the way he goes about the job. It could take a good one to beat him.

Read more:

Three more tracks to inspect with Storm Darcy set to batter Britain next week

'That is shambolic. If you've backed those horses I apologise to you'

Kemboy seizes the opportunity to secure Willie Mullins an 11th Irish Gold Cup

'What can you say after that?' - magnificent Monkfish strolls to Flogas success

Emphatic rather than exceptional but Appreciate It gets job done for Mullins

Big-race reaction: Monkfish looks to have taken another step forward

Did you know you can bet with your online bookmaker without leaving the Racing Post website? Simply sign in to your existing bookmaker account via the accounts button and tap the odds buttons on a racecard to place bets. Update or download the latest app here