Elliott: We don't have to make the running with Apple's Jade in the Champion

Three weeks before her date with destiny Apple's Jade was first in the queue as she led out 43 possible Cheltenham runners on to Gordon Elliott's gallops on Tuesday, with her trainer believing the mare has a "great chance" of toppling Buveur D'Air and co in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

"She likes being first out and leading the others, that's her," said Elliott. "She's had a fantastic season and if she were to win the Champion it would be the icing on the cake."

Gigginstown's star mare is 9-4 second favourite behind dual winner Buveur D'Air for the opening-day highlight of the festival, and Elliott was keen to stress she is more tactically adept than she gets credit for.

After burning off her Irish Champion Hurdle rivals from the front, Elliott and owners Michael and Eddie O’Leary decided to reroute the 16-length Leopardstown winner to the Champion Hurdle.

Apple's Jade canters at Cullentra House Stables under Keith DonoghueCredit: Patrick McCann

Elliott is convinced Apple’s Jade will not have to dictate in order to get the better of Buveur D’Air and said a strong pace may even play to the mare’s strengths.

”It's not a must to make the running," he said, speaking at a media day at his County Meath yard.

"She was taken on for the lead in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse and I'd say that was arguably her best run of the season. If there's pace in the race and something else makes it, that might even suit her better."

Elliott, who has been leading trainer at Cheltenham for the past two years and is 6-4 favourite to make it a hat-trick, added: “Before she ran at Leopardstown the Mares' Hurdle was the race we were going for, but she was so good at Leopardstown we said why not give her a chance at it. It's a Champion Hurdle and we all want to win them.

"Had she only scraped home at Leopardstown we'd have stuck to the original plan and gone for the mares' race. But she's gone from strength to strength this season, we're very lucky. If she runs to the form she's been in all season I think she'll run a big race. I think she's got a great chance."

The seven-year-old, who will be making her fourth appearance at the festival, was reported to have been in season when beaten by Benie Des Dieux in the Mares’ Hurdle last year, before suffering a similar fate at Punchestown in April.

However, Elliott and his team seem to have a handle on the situation now. Asked to explain how they have managed the issue, the trainer said: “We have to keep an eye on her cycle and monitor it very closely. The veterinary surgeons deal with it, and the girls in the yard who look after her every day.”

Samcro: has had a wind operation and is set to go novice chasingCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

If everything has fallen into place for Apple’s Jade this season, the same cannot be said for Gigginstown poster boy Samcro who at the start of the season had the Champion Hurdle as his target.

Subsequent events have shown that he is not the second coming of Jesus Christ – as Gigginstown's Michael O’Leary put it – but Elliott is not ruling out a resurrection at Cheltenham.

Last season’s outstanding novice hurdler is continuing to recover from a deep-rooted lung infection, which is understood to be the cause of his perplexing display in the Ryanair Hurdle at Christmas.

Samcro could be aimed at the Sun Racing Stayers’ Hurdle, provided he continues to work well, although a decision will be left until much nearer the time.

Elliott said: “Cheltenham is coming fast enough. He has options at Cheltenham, Punchestown and Aintree but the next ten days are important. He looks good, but until you give them a piece of serious work you don't know where you're going or what you're doing.

“If he gets to Cheltenham, great, but if he doesn't it'll be Aintree or Punchestown. And if he doesn't make those either, we will take the shoes off him and go chasing next season. There's no decision yet. It'll have to be discussed with Michael and Eddie [O'Leary].”

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