Fresh could be best for Quilixios in Champion Chase, says O'Keeffe
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Thu 22 Jan 2026
Darragh O’Keeffe told Racing TV viewers on Thursday that Quilixios remains on course to try and avenge his unfortunate defeat in last season’s BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The Henry De Bromhead-trained chaser has been absent since falling at the final fence in last year’s renewal when having every chance. His exit left the way clear for Marine Nationale to prevail by18 lengths.
Quilixios is a general 16-1 for this year’s Champion Chase and is reported to be on course for Cheltenham.
O’Keeffe told host Lydia Hislop on an edition of Road To Cheltenham live from Gowran Park: “He’s swimming away and seems to be in good form. He had a setback after his fall but is in good order and all roads lead to the Champion Chase.”
O’Keeffe believes the 2021 Triumph Hurdle might have added a second Cheltenham Festival success to his CV had he stayed on his feet last March.
He said: “I was happy; he likes attacking his fences. My lad was taking me there; he jumped the third last well – he winged it.
“I got a good jump at the second last and then I went for a flyer at the last but it just didn't happen.”
The now-nine-year-old features prominently in the betting for the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday week but O’Keeffe believes that the horse’s best chance of a Champion Chase win could come first-time-out.
On whether he would head to Leopardstown, O’Keeffe explained: “I’m not 100 per cent sure but I thought they might keep him fresh – his best chance might be going there without a run. He’s proven that he can do it first time out before.
"His record fresh is good - last year we beat Marine Nationale – and hopefully he has a good chance, but it looks an open race.”
He added: "I thought Majborough was better last time and his jumping is getting there. I don’t think he needs to improve much to match the others and if he puts it all in on the day then he could be a big danger.”
Envoi Allen primed for Gold Cup swansong
O’Keeffe is enjoying the best season of his career, thanks mainly to the continued success of De Bromhead, and the 25-year-old jockey will be hoping to add to his list of Cheltenham Festival successes with a horse who has built his own legend.
Envoi Allen was again an impressive winner at Down Royal in the BetVictor Champion Chase in November and is on course to make his eighth consecutive appearance at the festival when he lines up in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, after which he will be retired.
O’Keeffe said: “He’s brilliant, I’ve ridden him twice and won two Grade Ones on him.
“He travelled well [last time] and he has that presence about him - at the third last I was taking him back.
“I rode him out yesterday [Wednesday] and even just warming up you’d think he was getting younger. He’s taking plenty of riding, and he looks in great form. There’s lots of confidence in him and it would be great if he could run well.
“You never know until you try [the trip] and it’s worth the role of the dice.”
Envoi Allen will step up to the extended three and a quarter mile trip for the first time, leaving his usual position in the Ryanair Chase vacant. His stablemate, Heart Wood, will once again contest that race.
The eight-year-old chased home Fact To File in last year’s renewal and heads into this season’s race in rude health after an impressive win at Tramore this month.
O’Keeffe, reflecting on last season’s runner-up effort, suggested that a change of tactics could be utilised this time around: “I thought from very early that I was going to be involved, though I could see how easily Mark [Walsh] was going on Fact To File. I knew I’d be placed.
“I might ride him more like I did at Tramore. Last year I had to ride him with a bit of patience – we were delighted to be in the top three – but I can ride him more positively now he’s won over further. He jumps well.”
The Robcour-owned chaser has sandwiched Grade Three wins at Punchestown and Tramore with a fourth-placed finish in the John Durkan Chase, but O’Keeffe believes that the horse’s effort in that strong race can be upgraded.
He explained: “Besides the first two, he just never got into it in the John Durkan. But that was as good a race as I've ridden in, the pace they went.
“He has form over just shy over three miles but I don’t know whether he fully gets the three miles.
“Everyone is keen to try it [a staying trip] again at some point, but if you take Fact Or File out of the Ryanair it looks wide open. He gets the two and a half and stays that trip well.”
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