APPLE’S Jade was one of the stars of the Christmas period, and how Frank Ward, in whose name the race she won was run in honour of, would have enjoyed the success. This was the 14th win of her career in 26 starts, and only twice has she finished out of the first three. Now turned eight, who can say what is still in the tank for this most talented of mares.

Incredibly, this was the mare’s 11th victory at Grade 1 level and all of these wins, along with her other runs in Grade 1 company, are listed on this page. What salivating reading they make.

Bred in France by Richard Coveliers, she is one of four winners by her Sadler’s Wells (Northern Dancer) sire Saddler Maker from the five-time winner Apple’s For Ever, successful over hurdles and in chases, and she in turn is a daughter of Nikos (Nonoalco). The other winners from Apple’s For Ever include a filly who was not far off Grade 1 class.

Just like Apple’s Jade, Apple’s Shakira (Saddler Maker) won on her only outing over hurdles in France, and it was the same race at Vichy won by Apple’s Jade. Apple’s Shakira was trained by Emmanual Clayeux and was then acquired by leading owner JP McManus and joined Nicky Henderson.

Apple’s Shakira has only raced seven times since she moved to England, her last run seeing her not beaten that far in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham last March.

She twice won Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trials at Cheltenham and was looking to extend her unbeaten run when she lined up for the 2018 Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle in which she finished fourth. On a retrieval mission at Aintree she was third in the Grade 1 Doom Bar Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle.

The latest and fifth winner from Apple’s For Ever is Grisy Apple’s (Montmartre) and he opened his winning account last year in France and was placed second in the Grade 3 Prix Morgex Chase at Auteuil on his most recent outing at the end of November. He has just turned five.

Apple’s For Ever has a four-year-old Apple’s Du Pont (Saddler Maker), a three-year-old son named Apple’s Pierro (Martaline) who is in training with Guillaume Macaire for owner Pierre Pilarski, and last year she foaled a colt by Pastorius (Soldier Hollow).

Apple’s For Ever’s dam Apple’s Girl (Le Pontet) was a very good hurdler in France. Trained and ridden by Jean-Yves Artu, she won the Grade 2 Prix Léon Olry-Roederer over hurdles at Auteuil in 1997, beating the King George VI Chase winner Algan on that occasion.

She also won the Prix La Barka Hurdle and Prix Renaud du Vivier 4YO Hurdle, both at Auteuil. In total she was successful seven times and was also placed a number of times in some of France’s best hurdle races.

At stud the daughter of Le Pontet (Success) had only four foals and three of them won. Apple’s For Ever was the most successful, followed by her own-brother and three-time winner Apple’s Andrea. Apple’s Girl was the best of four winners from the smart racemare Silver Girl (Son Of Silver) and she is also grandam of a useful Grade 2 winning hurdle mare called Arielle (Bricassar). While the family has had plenty of winners, the two more recent racemares are the outstanding runners in the family for four generations.

Saddler Maker should probably, in the normal run of events, never have gone to stud. He did manage to be placed from a handful of starts and he was a son of Sadler’s Wells (Northern Dancer). Though he was from a good Wertheimer family, he would have more likely been gelded and sent hurdling had he been owned by anyone else.

He died four years ago at the age of 18 and he has left behind a fairly smart record with his winners over jumps. In addition to Apple’s Jade, his son Bristol De Mai won a second Grade 1 Betfair Lancashire Chase, adding to other Grade 1 wins over hurdles and fences.

Other good winners by Saddler Maker include Grade 1 winning hurdler Messire Des Obeaux, Grade 2 winning chasers Dinaria Des Obeaux, Janika and Alpha Des Obeaux, Grade 2 winning hurdlers Apple’s Shakira, Chef Des Obeaux, Eglantine Du Seuil and Label Des Obeaux, and more.