CRUNCH TIME FOR APPLE’S
APPLE’S JADE is ready to show her champion credentials next month, her bullish trainer Gordon Elliott predicted yesterday.
The daughter of
Saddler Maker had been aimed at the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham before a 16-length victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown persuaded owner Michael O’leary to re-route to the Festival’s Champion Hurdle on March 12.
And at a media day yesterday, Elliott (above) said: “She’s something else. She’s gone from strength to strength this year and I’m really looking forward to running her.
“If she runs to the form she’s been in all year, I think she’ll run a big race in the Champion Hurdle.” Elliott admitted he is no nearer a decision as to Samcro’s participation in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Last year’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle hero is back under consideration for Cheltenham after recovering from the lung infection that saw him flop in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.
“The next 10 days are important,” added the Co Meath handler.
Paul Nicholls reached a landmark 3,000th career success under all disciplines in Great Britain and Europe when capitaine landed the Greene King handicap hurdle at Taunton yesterday.
The 10-time champion trainer has won virtually every major race, including the Grand National and cheltenham Gold cup, since taking out a licence in 1991. Nicholls had shown his team was in fine form, as next month’s Festival approaches, with a career-best eight winners in one day at three meetings on saturday. his domestic tally is now 2,960 - while 25 victories in ireland, four in France, plus 11 on the Flat, have taken him to 3,000.