JADE AND ’OISIN SHINE IN NAVAN

APPLE’S Jade proved herself on course for her Hatton’s Grace hat-trick bid at Fairyhouse in three weeks when repeating last year’s victory in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle in Navan yesterday.

The Gordon Elliotttrained mare (above) produced a fluent, front-running display to justify favouritism at the expense of former champion Jezki in race of mixed fortune for Gigginstown House Stud, owners of the winner and also dual Grade 1 winner Identity Thief which sustained a fatal injury.

Elliott declared: “She was dead as a maggot for her last two runs last season, but she’s a different mare now and was a like a bull today.

“She was good out there and should come on a little bit for the run. She’ll head back to Fairyhouse now,” when she’ll bid to emulate Limestone Lad and Solerina, three-time winners of the Hatton’s Grace.

Front-running tactics also paid off in the other Grade 2 on the card, the Fortria Chase, as 8/13 shot Ballyoisin (Barry Geraghty) produced a spectacular display and hacked up by 23 lengths from Ordinary World.

The seven-year-old’s trainer Enda Bolger described the winner as “a dream of a horse” and suggested: “We’ll follow the money and the ground. If the ground stays good, he could head to Leopardstown at Christmas.”

The other graded event, the Grade 3 For Auction Novice Hurdle, went to the Willie Mullins second string Aramon, ridden by Paul Townend to a convincing win.