Apple’s Jade© Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott insists a tilt at the Champion Hurdle remains “very doubtful” for Apple’s Jade — despite confirming his star mare an intended runner in the Irish equivalent at Leopardstown next month.
She will head next for the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Festival — having secured her third successive win in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse on her penultimate start, then her 13th career victory overall when defending her crown in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Given the Gigginstown House Stud-owned seven-year-old has proved more than a match for the boys several times, there have unsurprisingly been calls for her to take them on again at Prestbury Park in March, instead of again running in the Mares’ Hurdle — a race she won in 2017.
However, when asked about a tilt at the Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Festival launch, Elliott said: “She’ll have an entry, but I’d say it’ll be very doubtful.”
Apple’s Jade is a hot favourite to extend her winning run in the Irish Champion Hurdle on February 2, and Elliott is relishing the challenge.
He said: “She’s in good form at home. She’ll do a bit of work next Tuesday morning — and if all goes well she definitely runs (at Leopardstown).
“We’ll probably run Farclas and Tombstone in it as well — so all being well, we’ll have two or three runners.”
The Jessica Harrington-trained Supasundae saw off Faugheen when winning last year’s Irish Champion Hurdle and is on course to defend his crown.
The nine-year-old was a long way behind Apple’s Jade in the Hatton’s Grace, and was last seen chasing home Sharjah in the Ryanair Hurdle.
“Everything is going very well with him,” said Harrington.
“He ran here at Christmas, and was beaten by Sharjah that day. He didn’t really get the run of the race there.
“If it’s a good, true-run race — which I think it will be with Apple’s Jade in it — I think he’ll run a big race.”
Petit Mouchoir won the Irish Champion Hurdle two years ago, and spent last season over fences.
He blew away any cobwebs when last of six in the Ryanair Hurdle last month, and trainer Henry de Bromhead is expecting him to improve for that run.
He said: “I’d say we’ll aim for it (Irish Champion Hurdle). He’s in great form, and I was very happy with his first run back.
“He hadn’t run for a long time and he’s had his problems, but he won this two years ago and is a very good horse on his day.”
