Trainer Gordon Elliott registered a first winner in the ninth race of the 2021 Dublin Racing Festival today as his Quilixios maintained a four-race undefeated record in comfortably landing the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle.

Ridden by Jack Kennedy, the son of Maxios had previously won on his French debut at Compiegne last March and having followed up with Irish wins at Punchestown and Down Royal, today successfully stepped up to top level when beating Saint Sam by five and a half lengths.

Elliott, who trails Willie Mullins by €350,000 in the Trainers' Championship race, later commented “in fairness to the horse he missed Christmas; my plan was to go to Chepstow with him for the Grade 1 and that was called off.

“Big thanks to Tom Malone as he bought the horse for Cheveley Park and that’s their first Grade 1 winner since Mr Thompson passed away. He’s been a big supporter of the yard.

“He’s more than a juvenile and is a horse for next year as well.

“I’d imagine he’ll go for the Triumph along with Zanahiyr unless he gets a nice mark in the Fred Winter.”

Winning jockey Kennedy added “he made a mistake at the third last and to be fair to him he picked them up well after that. Once I got to Danny (Mullins, on Saint Sam), I could feel him start to race but once I got to the front he idled. He is an idle horse but did it very well.”

Paddy Power later cut Quilixios to 11/2 (from 8/1) for the Triumph Hurdle next March.

Quotes from Alan Magee