JADE SHOWS SHE’S A REAL GEM
David Yates
THE Champion Hurdle is “a possibility – but only a possibility” for Apple’s Jade after her 16-length romp in the Irish version a t L e o p a r d s t o wn yesterday.
The BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle represented a compelling test for the Gordon Elliott-trained mare – a 10th triumph at the top level, and a first at two miles since her days as a juvenile hurdler in the spring of 2016.
Jack Kennedy’s mount accomplished the feat in style, making the running and stretching out in the straight – where a low sun caused the final flight to be bypassed – to humble last year’s winner Supasundae. Apple’s Jade is now as short as 7-4 for the Champion Hurdle on March 12, but owner Michael O’leary’s team are focused on the Mares’ Hurdle, which she won in 2017. “We will sit down with Gordon but as of now it’s long odds on it’s the Mares’ Hurdle,” said the Ryanair owner’s brother and racing manager, Eddie.
Pressed about the prospect of taking on dual Champion Hurdler Buveur D’air – who warmed up for the National Hunt Festival with a 1-5 score at Sandown Park’s Contenders Hurdle yesterday – in the feature race of Cheltenham’s opening day, O’leary said: “We rule nothing out.
“There is a possibility, but it’s only a possibility.”
Willie Mullins will mull over whether to aim Min at the two- mile Queen Mother Champion Chase or the Ryanair Chase over an addit tional five furl longs after Ruby W Walsh mount c completed backto to-back successes i in the Grade 1 Dublin Chase,
“He has a lot of doors open to him,” said Mullins.