APPLE’S Jade looked back to her brilliant best with a commanding victory on her return to action in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan last Sunday.

Gordon Elliott’s star mare made her seasonal debut for the second year running in the Grade 2 contest and claimed back-to-back successes in the two-and-a-half mile contest.

Jack Kennedy bounced out in front on the even-money shot and she skipped clear before the final flight to record an 11-length success over former champion hurdler Jezki.

Elliott, who trains the daughter of Saddler Maker for Gigginstown House Stud, said afterwards: “She was good there today and we’re delighted. She had to do the donkey work and she’ll even come on a little bit from the run but we’re delighted, it was a great run.

“We’ll go to Fairyhouse now for the Hatton’s Grace. I was very happy and she was a different mare than she was on her last two runs.

“It was nice to get her back on track. She showed a lot of her old spark.

“If you look at her before and after the race she’s a different mare. She was dead as a maggot when she was in season but she’s like a bull going around there today.

“Jack said she jumped a little bit right but she always does that. With a bit of company she’ll be better but we had to make the running because we didn’t want it to turn into a sprint.”

Unfortunately the race was marred by the fatal injury suffered by Identity Thief after the second last.

DOUBLE

Elliott, and owners Gigginstown, went on to complete a double in the concluding bumper when 5/4 favourite Column Of Fire ran out an impressive winner.

Lisa O’Neill sent her mount clear over a furlong from home to record a 13-length win. “He’s a nice horse, a big baby,” said Elliott.

“He’ll be a horse that won’t do much more this year. He’ll have another run in a bumper, I’d say that’s all he’ll do this year, but he’s a horse for the future.

“He was behind the bridle the whole way and only got going at the end.”

Ballyoisin was another to live up to his star billing in the featured TheTote.com Fortria Chase as he also made all to land the two-miler.

Barry Geraghty’s mount gave an exuberant exhibition in the Grade 2 contest as he pulled away from his field down the back stretch.

The Enda Bolger-trained gelding, carrying the colours of JP McManus, galloped his rivals into the ground to record a comprehensive 23-length success over Ordinary World.

“We’re delighted with him and he’s doing everything we’re asking of him,” said Bolger. “His jumping is slick and the one question mark we would have is the real heavy winter ground.

“He seems to be in good form all the time at home. We’ll follow the ground and follow the money. Leopardstown could be his track with all the fences as he loves the jumping. He’s a dream of a horse.”

SURPRISE

Willie Mullins admitted to be slightly surprised after Aramon ran out a cosy winner of the Grade 3 For Auction Novice Hurdle. Paul Townend took the mount on the 8/1 shot and he travelled well.

The Monsun gelding quickened up smartly on the run-in to post a three-length win over Magnium.

“That’s a huge improvement for him and he showed a lot more speed than we thought he had,” said Mullins, who was surrounded by a large group of owners from the Supreme Horse Racing Club afterwards. “You’d probably have to look at the Royal Bond now.

“He ran very green in Listowel and I asked Paul not to make as much use of him as he did there and see what he would do so we are pleasantly surprised at how he took to the change of tactics.

“He lost his off-fore shoe and he got a nice little cut as did Quick Grabim (finished fourth). It must have been a rougher race than we thought.

“They got two little cuts on the sides of their pasterns. I hope they are just typical racing injuries that will be alright in ten days time.”

The stewards enquired into the reason why E.T. Daly, rider, was jogging on the racing line in the back straight during the running of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who apologised for what had occurred. Having considered all the evidence, the stewards cautioned the rider to be more careful when out on the course in future.

Another horse to pull away in style up the finishing hill was Wonder Laish in the Hotel Park St Johann Handicap Hurdle.

Charles Byrnes’ charge was sent to post a 9/10 shot on his first start in handicap company over hurdles, following a big run to finish.

Russell produced the hot-pot to lead before the last and he stretched clear in the closing stages to post a seven-and-a-half-length success.

“He jumped better than I thought he would and he won well. It was a great run last week,” said Byrnes.

“What the opposition was like, I don’t know, but to look at the betting market there wasn’t a whole lot fancied. He couldn’t do any more than he did. He’ll just tip away in handicaps now and we’ll see how far he can go.

“He jumped better than we thought he would. Davy was a bit concerned about his jumping and he jumped better than we expected.

“He has his flat mark going forward. A race like the Chester Cup would maybe be possible if he got softish ground. He doesn’t want it any better than what’s out there.”

STORMED HOME

Aasleagh Dawn (20/1) also stormed home on the run-in to take the opening John Joe Finnegan Memorial Handicap Hurdle. The Gavin Cromwell-trained mare came with a strong surge in the closing stages to record a three-and-a-quarter-length win under Ger Fox.

“It worked out grand. She’s a bit slow and wanted that big galloping track and the good ground,” said Cromwell.

“I ran her in Ludlow in England because I thought she wanted nice ground but it was just too quick for her and she couldn’t operate at all but that was just nice for her.

“She needs everything to go her way. It was absolutely ideal as they went quick and she was flat to the boards the whole way.

“She jumped great and was brave enough over the last two. She’ll stay further and she wouldn’t want to be going any less than that.”

J.J. Slevin is hopeful Us And Them (5/1) can develop into a nice chaser after his success, in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained gelding made all and produced a fine leap at the last to record a two-length success in the two-mile, one-furlong contest.

“He jumped well. He had a good run the first day and he was always one of the scopiest horses we had,” said Slevin. “He went around Punchestown as a four-year-old and he was always a great jumper. He did it well.

“His jumping is such a big asset to him. He could be a nice horse.”

ACTING STEWARDS:

R. Dore, F. Kenny,

R.S. Martin, T. Hunt,

M.F. O’Donoghue.

HORSE TO FOLLOW:

WONDER LAISH (C. Byrnes): Did it in style back over timber and looks the sort that can be placed to land a nice race over hurdles this season.