Apple’s Jade rules the roost on fateful day
FOR all the shimmering brilliance of Apple’s Jade in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle, the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival was a tale of sunlight and shadow.
The low-lying sun meant fewer hurdles and fences at Leopardstown, while two fewer horses, Malinas Jack and Special Tiara, returned to their boxes after fatal injuries sustained in-running.
Both were trained by Henry De Bromhead who, after attending to the stricken Special Tiara following the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, tore back to the stewards’ room to withdraw Paloma Blue from the next.
The 12-year-old’s owner Sally Rowley-Williams was in tears after her front-running 2017 Champion Chase winner shattered a leg in front of the grandstands.
Such are the capricious ways of racing, a cruel reminder that today’s hero, or heroine, can be tomorrow’s casualty in the blink of an eye.
With the sun slanting down the straight, racecourse chiefs made the sensible call to bypass the final hurdle, and fence, in the straight for the first five races. Later, the second last fence was dolled off.
The caution was necessary even if it created a slightly short-changed feel for 12,544 racegoers. ‘It doesn’t seem right, but safety is paramount for horse and rider,’ said champion trainer Willie Mullins. ‘I don’t know what they can do about it.’
Peering into the distance, metaphorically, it remains to be seen where Apple’s Jade pitches up at Cheltenham.
A 10th Grade One triumph at 8/11 was chalked up in the style of a Champion Hurdle contender as the seven-year-old mare crushed Supasundae, Melon and Co by a cushy 16 lengths.
It was as convincing a victory as any achieved by the old-timers paraded beforehand, including Hurricane Fly and Hardy Eustace.
On this pulse-racing form, and with a seven-pound six allowance to come, Apple’s Jade would carry a lot of financial support if she squared up to Buveur D’Air.
Predictably, connections kicked for touch although co-owner Eddie O’Leary admitted to being ‘tempted’ by the Champion Hurdle.
‘She’s one in a lifetime’ said O’Leary of a horse which has won prizemoney over €850,000.
With a first prize of €300,000 for the Champion Hurdle, as opposed to €76,000 for the Mares’ Hurdle, the incentive to take on the boys is there, and trainer Gordon Elliott acknowledged ‘everything is a possibility now’.
Jack Kennedy, still only 19, knows a proper horse when he sits on one.
‘She makes very good horses look ordinary. The further she went, the further clear she went. Nobody told her it was two miles,’ he said.
So, would the Kerry pilot like to ride her in the Champion Hurdle? ‘I’d like to ride any horse in the Champion Hurdle. She’s the best hurdler I’ve ever sat on.’
Victory was the middle leg of a 20/1 treble top for Elliott who also saddled Commander Of Fleet (13/2) in the €125,000 Nathanial Lacey & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle, and Envoi Allen (4/6 fav) in the €87,500 Matheson Flat Race. Both are Cheltenham-bound.
So, too, is Off You Go (8/1), which, despite carrying 23lb more than last year, reeled in a gallant Jezki to win the €125,000 Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle back-to-back.
‘He’s a very good horse to win off that weight,’ said trainer Charles Byrnes who will aim the JP McManus runner at either the County Hurdle or Coral Cup.
Willie Mullins has the option of Champion Chase or Ryanair Chase for Min (2/9) after victory in the Dublin Chase, which lost its edge with the withdrawal of Simply Ned, demise of Special Tiara, and first fence fall of Castlegrace Paddy.
‘With the first and last fence out I’m not sure it told us much. He has a lot of doors open for him,’ said Mullins. So, too, has Apple’s Jade.