POLISHED JADE A GEM

APPLE’S JADE restored punters’ faith in backing short-priced superstars of the game on their seasonal return when winning the Grade Two Lismullen Hurdle for the second year running at Navan yesterday.

The mighty Arkle winner Footpad (4-9 fav) had fallen 24 hours earlier at Naas – when already looking beaten – and, of course, the hype bubble surrounding Samcro was pricked at Down Royal 10 days ago when he started at 4-9 too.

But Apple’s Jade won like an even money favourite should, scampering 11 lengths clear under Jack Kennedy, and in a strong contest that featured five other Grade One winners.

Sadly, one of them, Identity Thief, has run his last race as he pulled up abruptly between the last two flights and was subsequently put down.

That took the shine off the success for owner Michael O’Leary, in whose Gigginstown House Stud silks both Apple’s Jade and Identity Thief run.

Apple’s Jade is already favourite for the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival, which she won in 2017.

There were no surprises either in the Fortria Chase in which Ballyoisin flew the last fence before running out an impressive

23-length winner for trainer Enda Bolger.

That’s eight wins in 17 races, and four in a row, for the progressive seven-year-old.

The front two in the betting for the Grade Two For Auction Novices’ Hurdle – Quick Grabim and Felix Desjy – could finish only fourth and last respectively, causing some reshuffling in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle market at Cheltenham.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Ruby Walsh’s mount Quick Grabim, did have the consolation of winning the prize with his

8-1 hope Aramon.

The most frightening incident in the race was when the field narrowly avoided ploughing down

7lb claiming conditional jockey Evan Daly, who had drifted across their path while jogging on the course.

Daly, who was listening to music on his headphones at the time, heard the thundering hooves only with seconds to spare, which saved him from potential serious injury.

Daly’s luck did not hold when he came to ride later on the card as he was sixth on the Joseph O’Brien-trained Gold Seal in the 3.15.