Apple's Jade heads three-pronged Elliott attack on Irish Champion Hurdle

1.25 Leopardstown
BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | RTE2/RTV

Elliott mare bids for tenth Grade 1

Apple's Jade, an exceptional performer over a range of distances, drops down to two miles in her bid to land a tenth Grade 1 victory.

The seven-year-old will be aiming to give Gordon Elliott a first win in the event and will be racing over the minimum trip for the first time in over two years, when finishing second to Rashaan in the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle at Down Royal in November 2016.

Victory here would see her become the first mare to land the prize since Like-A-Butterfly in 2003.

Elliott said: "She's in very good form and we're very happy with her. She's really enjoying herself and working well this season. She seems to be getting better with age.

"It's a bit of a worry coming back to two miles as she's so effective over a longer trip but we've nothing to lose by running her.

"It's an Irish Champion Hurdle and if it doesn't work out she's more than likely to go for the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham."

Elliott is also represented by last year's Triumph Hurdle winner, Farclas, and Tombstone.

He added: "Farclas fell early on at Limerick's Christmas meeting and while he'll need to improve he seems in good form and we decided to let him take his chance. Tombstone looks up against it."

Pros A star performer with nine Grade 1s to her credit.

Cons Question marks over whether she will be effective over a trip short of her best.

Supasundae aims to step up

A versatile performer across a variety of trips, the Jessica Harrington-trained nine-year-old achieved both of his Grade 1 wins over two miles last season when he won this event and the Punchestown Champion Hurdle.

He finished runner-up to Sharjah in the Ryanair Hurdle over course and distance in December on his last start and Harrington said: "Supasundae always come on from his first couple of runs. He's very stuffy at home and difficult to get fit, so I'm hoping he'll have come on again since his run at Christmas.

"A lot will depend on how the pace is. If they go a really good gallop it'll suit as he stays very well."

Pros A consistent performer over different trips and twice a Grade 1 winner over two miles.

Cons Will need to have improve on previous efforts this season.

Melon 'should improve' on reappearance fourth

Unlike his two main rivals, the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old has yet to score at Grade 1 level.

Ruby Walsh's mount produced easily his best effort when running Buveur D'Air to a neck in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last season.

He finished fourth in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown on his reappearance in December when almost four lengths behind Supasundae.

Walsh said in his Paddy Power blog: “Melon will need to reproduce his run in last year’s Champion Hurdle when second to Buveur D’Air. But he should improved a hell of a lot from his run here at Christmas.”

“Apple’s Jade’s wins at Navan, Fairyhouse and Leopardstown have been brilliant and she’ll be a tough nut to crack," he added. "The only worry with her is dropping back to two miles at this level. Supasundae was beaten over three miles by Apple’s Jade at Christmas, but did win this contest last year.”

Pros Sound claims if reproducing the form he showed when running Buveur D'Air close at Cheltenham last season.

Cons Not entirely consistent and will need to progress from his Ryanair Hurdle run at Christmas.

De Bromhead happy with Petit Mouchoir

The winner of this event two years ago before being sent over fences, the eight-year-old reverted to hurdles in the Ryanair Hurdle in December when last of six behind Sharjah.

His trainer Henry de Bromhead will be bidding for a third win in the race, which he first landed with Sizing Europe in 2008 and said: "Petit Mouchoir ran really well last time out when he needed the run.

Petit Mouchoir: 2017 Irish Champion Hurdle winnerCredit: Alain Barr

"Hopefully he'll come on a good bit for that. He's in good form and I'm very happy with him."

Pros A smart hurdler at his peak who has won two Grade 1s at Leopardstown.

Cons Will probably need a career-best performance to get involved.

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