THERE was much debate in days leading up to the Champion Hurdle as to whether the defection of VroumVroum Mag and/or the decision not to supplement Limini had weakened the feature race to an unacceptable degree.

In the end such discussions were largely forgotten by memorable races for both the Champion and the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, with the latter producing yet another grandstand finish as Apple’s Jade beat both the Mullins/Ricci mares in game fashion after pressing on from the pacesetting Pass The Time at the fifth.