Last season’s Cheltenham Mares Hurdle winner Apple’s Jade made a winning return to action at Navan today when landing the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle and in the process completed Graded doubles on the day for trainer Gordon Elliott, owner Gigginstown House Stud and jockey Jack Kennedy.

The five-times Grade 1 winning daughter of Saddler Maker gained memorable top level wins at the Aintree and Punchestown festivals in 2016 and again at the Cheltenham and Punchestown festivals this year, today jumped slightly right at times but held the challenge of Jer’s Girl on the run-in, for a two lengths win.

Elliott, whose Mengli Khan won the half-hour earlier Grade 3 novice hurdle, later stated “that's grand as she normally gets beat the first day. I'd imagine she'll go to Fairyhouse now (Hatton’s Grace Hurdle) but obviously I'll speak to Michael and Eddie (O’Leary).

“She's tough and he was able to make the running on her and keep it simple and Jack said she'll come on from it.

On jumping slightly right, he added “she was just idling and I wouldn't worry about that. He (Kennedy) said if she had something to make her competitive she'd be okay.

“I'd say we'll keep her against her own sex; she'll have entries in everything but I'd say she definitely will (keep to mares’ races).”

Quotes from Gary Carson