IRISH STALLION

FARMS EBF MARES

CHAMPION HURDLE

(Grade 1)

UNDERSTANDABLY the focus after this contest remained on the enduring trainer’s title battle but this was a race that belonged to Apple’s Jade whose position as a superstar mare is surely beyond reproach.

Now a five-time Grade 1 scorer this five-year-old is nothing short of metronomic at the highest level and this represented a fitting end to the season for a mare of rare quality.

The first season outside of their own age group has been a challenging one for many top juvenile hurdlers but Apple’s Jade has taken it in her stride and there are surely many more big days ahead for Gordon Elliott’s charge.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned mare was the evens favourite to follow-up her memorable Cheltenham triumph but she faced an interesting test.

In opposition were three Grade 1 winners along with the unexposed and exciting Karalee.

Ultimately nothing could live with Bryan Cooper’s mount when it mattered most. Apple’s Jade took a lead from Airlie Beach for much of the race but she moved on after two out and produced quite a response when she was asked to assert off the last bend.

The daughter of Saddler Maker left her rivals for dead and she eventually came home with 14 lengths to spare over Airlie Beach and Karalee.

“She’s a little star,” said Elliott, whose victory enabled him to equal the Willie Mullins record of 193 winners in an Irish National Hunt season.

“It was a great performance from her because I did think that she might have hit a little flat spot at one point during the race.

“In fairness to her, she is very tough and very good and that’s three Grade 1s she’s won for us this season.

“I doubt she is one that we will ever try her over fences and hopefully we can look forward to another good season over hurdles next year.

“Obviously it’s a bit early to be talking about plans but she is definitely a mare that we would try over three miles at some stage,” concluded the trainer.