Quilixios shines in a stunning victory at Naas, outpacing Marine Nationale in the Grade Three Barberstown Castle Chase, while Trainer Henry de Bromhead celebrates a successful double and emerging talents capture attention across the card.
In an exhilarating showcase of front-running excellence, Quilixios, guided by the skilled Darragh O’Keeffe, emerged victorious against the heavily favored Marine Nationale in the Grade Three Barberstown Castle Chase at Naas. The seven-year-old gelding, part of Cheveley Park Stud, pulled ahead in the concluding stretches, defeating his opponent by an impressive seven and a half lengths.
Right from the outset, Quilixios seemed to thrive, expertly navigating each fence with impressive smoothness. His strong early showing placed the favourite in a challenging position before the penultimate fence, clearly demonstrating his exceptional jumping ability and stamina. Trainer Henry de Bromhead, well-versed in achieving success in major races, shared his admiration for the performance. 'Watching these two-mile races is truly enjoyable—he jumped magnificently, and Darragh was exceptional,' de Bromhead remarked. 'He performed brilliantly here in January on very different ground, and it's evident how much he delights in his jumping.'
De Bromhead, enjoying a fantastic run of form, achieved a remarkable 76-1 double on the day, with Quilixios marking the second part of this success. Previously, Miss Tempo, priced at 16-1, claimed victory in the Overlander Horseboxes Novice Handicap Chase, showcasing an adventurous front-running performance from Mike O’Connor. Miss Tempo was never challenged for the lead, successfully fending off the attempts of stablemate Ballybrack Wood, the 5-2 favourite, to secure a 12-length triumph.
In the highlighted Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle, Philip Rothwell's The Busy Fool maintained his remarkable form by setting the pace and securing a hard-fought win. With 7lb claimer Tiernan Power-Roche in the saddle, The Busy Fool put in a determined effort to hold off the challenges from Park of Kings and Sir Allen. Rothwell expressed his satisfaction, commenting, "He’s a large horse and his owners have shown great patience. We've kept him over hurdles for the time being, with plans for chasing next year. The increase in distance really benefited him today."
In the realm of novice chases, Farren Glory, a Grade One winner under the training of Gordon Elliott, claimed his inaugural chase victory at the Mongey Communications Beginners Chase. The 4-6 favorite showed some initial hesitation at a couple of fences but surged ahead in the closing furlong to achieve a decisive seven-and-a-half-length win over Ho My Lord. Elliott commented on the horse's careful demeanor, saying, "Jack [Kennedy] mentioned he was a bit cautious early on but really found his stride after the last. He will now proceed directly to the Drinmore at Fairyhouse."
In the Fishery Lane 4-Year-Old Hurdle, the impressive Pinot Gris, competing in blinkers for the first time, achieved a convincing victory. The four-year-old gelding, trained by Gavin Cromwell, left Palamon behind in the closing stages, winning by a clear margin of three lengths. Cromwell swiftly attributed the success to the equipment change, stating, “He can be a lazy type, and the blinkers really helped him concentrate. Now, we’ll look towards handicaps for him, and possibly some jumping events later on.”
The day was not without its challenges for the favorites. In the mares bumper, Lau And Shaz, the 8-11 favorite, was relegated to third place by Declan Queally's Carrigmoornaspruce. The latter, trained and ridden by Queally, displayed a stronger performance, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the bumper races.
In the Cavan Developments Maiden Hurdle, Paul Townend put in a confident ride on Spasiba for Willie Mullins. Although his jumping could have been better at times, the 1-2 favourite controlled the race and secured a clear win. Mullins commented, “It was a solid performance, but he got the job done. We may look to extend his distance and seek an appropriate novice race for him.”
The day wrapped up with Lieutenant Mayne, the much-anticipated 1-4 favorite, achieving a commanding 16-length win in the ING Stallion Owners Maiden Hurdle. Ridden by Ben Harvey and trained by John McConnell, the dual bumper champion showcased flawless jumping and a powerful finishing burst, solidifying his status as a promising contender for the future. McConnell expressed his enthusiasm, commenting, “He’s a beautiful horse, and the outlook is promising. We’ll be patient with him, possibly starting with a novice race in the UK before moving him up in class.”
