The Apple of my eye
APPLE’S Jade can make amends for her defeat at Cheltenham by landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Annie Power Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.
Gordon Elliott’s star mare led for most of the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park and appeared to have nothing left in the tank coming up the hill, finishing third behind Benie Des Dieux and Midnight Tour.
Under a different type of ride today, she could be very hard to beat.
The six-year-old (right) has won at this meeting for the past two years, including this race 12 months ago, and I strongly fancy her to make it three-in-a-row.
FARCLAS could uphold the Cheltenham form with Mr Adjudicator in the AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle – a race Apple’s Jade won in 2016.
This contest is another battle between Elliott and Mullins, with the two trainers responsible for every single entry – three for the Meath man and six for the Carlow trainer.
Farclas found plenty to power up the hill in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and I expect he’ll be coming home in front again here.
Mullins has an incredible number of horses in the Ballymore Handicap Hurdle this evening, with him being responsible for 14 of the 25 runners and two of the three reserves.
On that evidence, you would have to think he will come out on top with one of them and I’ll be backing Max Dynamite.
The Melbourne Cup third can show his class and is definitely worth an each way punt.
Meanwhile, just before 3 o’clock this afternoon, you can boil the kettle, make a nice cup of tea, sit down, relax and enjoy the ALTIOR show.
Nicky Henderson’s stable star will go off a very short-priced favourite for the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown, but he is impossible to oppose.
The eight-year-old took his winning run to 13 in a row by claiming the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March, beating second-placed Min by seven lengths, and he will surely make it 14 here.
This horse’s attitude is second to none. He looked to be under a bit of pressure last time before powering up the hill and winning easily in the end.
He could be one of a number of winners for Henderson this afternoon.
The Lambourn trainer has already been crowned Champion Trainer in Britain so there’ll be no Mullins v Elliott type battle at Sandown today.
TOP NOTCH, who was last seen finishing fourth at Ascot in February, should give Henderson victory in the bet365 Oakley Chase, while SUGAR BARON looks a great each-way bet in the bet365 Gold Cup.