In an impressive display at the Barberstown Castle Chase in Naas, Quilixios took down favourite Marine Nationale, securing a decisive victory. Marine Nationale, a dual Grade One-winning hurdler and celebrated for his 2023 Supreme Novices' Hurdle win at Cheltenham, entered as the 8-11 favourite in his first appearance since his disappointing run in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown in February.
Quilixios, a Triumph Hurdle champion at Cheltenham four years ago, showed his own mettle under a strong ride by Darragh O’Keeffe. He put the field under pressure well before the final turn, stretching his lead and leaving his rivals struggling to keep up. Marine Nationale attempted to close in down the straight, but it was evident after the penultimate fence that he could not match Quilixios’ pace. Ultimately, Henry de Bromhead’s Quilixios (7-2) crossed the finish with a commanding seven-and-a-half-length lead.
De Bromhead expressed his satisfaction, commenting that Quilixios showed impressive form, especially given his strong January performance. He noted that O’Keeffe executed the ride excellently, making bold moves that showcased the horse's natural jumping ability. Quilixios tackled the course with such confidence that De Bromhead described it as thrilling to watch.
Following the win, Quilixios’ odds for the Queen Mother Champion Chase were slashed from 100-1 to 50-1 by Paddy Power, while Marine Nationale’s odds lengthened from 9-1 to 16-1 for the same race.
Looking ahead, De Bromhead mentioned that he and his team would assess the horse’s condition after this victory and consider top-tier races, possibly the Tingle Creek or Leopardstown’s Christmas race. He added that Quilixios performs well on any ground, having won on very challenging terrain earlier in the year, despite slight concerns about the ground conditions this time around.