A small amount of drizzle kept the conditions on the New Course much like they had been on the Thursday: that is, predominantly good to soft going. This Triumph was more eagerly anticipated than most, featuring a showdown between the best of the Irish-trained and the best of the British-trained horses, though one of the latter ran poorly and the lack of early pace made it a messy affair and by no means definitive in terms of pecking order, the overall time about 4.0s slower than the County Hurdle which followed but with faster late sectionals and a finishing speed of 110%.
QUILIXIOS has quickly made into a smart hurdler, this and his win at the Dublin Racing Festival proving that beyond dispute, and he gained win number five out of five in ready fashion, though getting a more tactically astute ride than his apparent main rival, close up until going on two out, under pressure soon after but putting his seal on things in the final 100 yards. This can be rated 150 on form, if just 121 on time, which is slightly above average for a recent Triumph winner but some way off Champion Hurdle standard, though with 12 months to go during which Quilixios could improve further. He has shown a fair amount of speed in his last two outings and does not need further.
ADAGIO emerged best of the British with a 146-rated effort, marginally better than he had managed when winning at Chepstow the time before, close up, briefly disputing the lead between the last two and seen off for sure only in the final 100 yards. A son of the useful German 12f performer Wiener Walzer, he will probably stay a bit further, and his jumping is notably good for a juvenile, but he seems likely to find things tougher in open company next season.
HAUT EN COULEURS had just one run, and win, in a newcomers race at Auteuil to his name previously and ran a belter, posting a rating of 145 and shaping as if he may prove the best of these in time, held up in touch, moving up menacingly as the pace really picked up two out but unable to quicken thereafter, including under stronger pressure on the run-in. A son of the very useful French jumper Saint des Saints, he will stay 20f and looks a good prospect.
ZANAHIYR, tongue tied for the first time, was a worthy favourite judged on his emphatic defeat of Saint Sam at Fairyhouse in a fast time, more so than his win in a slowly run contest at Leopardstown, and was found out by the tactical nature of this contest under a rather unenterprising ride, tracking the pace going well but tapped for toe after two out and only really getting going late on the run-in. I have left his division-leading 155 rating for another run, but he ran to only about 144 here.
TRITONIC failed to do himself justice 20 days on from his impressive Kempton win, short of pace between the last two but finding little rather than more thereafter. He should be back, but his form is not quite as good as that of the four who beat him.
TAX FOR MAX was thrown in at the deep end again but should do better eventually, especially if he learns to settle.
