Gordon Elliott eyeing Stayers' Hurdle for Apple's Jade but Samcro misses out

Apple's Jade is likely to take her chance at Aintree but stablemate Samcro will miss the meeting, according to trainer Gordon Elliott.

The Ryanair Stayers' Hurdle on Saturday is the favoured option for Apple's Jade, who was reported to have scoped dirty after disappointing when favourite for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.

Speaking on Monday, Elliott said: "Apple's Jade and Samcro worked at the gallops facility at Skryne [County Meath] this morning. Apple's Jade has a couple of Grade 1 entries at Aintree and will probably go, but Samcro won't be travelling.

"Apple's Jade is in the Aintree Hurdle on Thursday and the Stayers' Hurdle on Saturday. I'll talk things over with Michael and Eddie [O’Leary] before we decide, but we might go for the longer race with her."

Coral Cup winner William Henry and Stayers' Hurdle runner-up Sam Spinner are among 16 possible opponents for Apple's Jade in Saturday's contest.

Samcro, a dual Grade 1 winner as a novice last season when he landed the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, has failed to win in three attempts this season and has not run since disappointing in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown in December after which he was found to have a deep-rooted lung infection. A novice chase campaign is planned for next term.

Elliott said: "He might go to Fairyhouse on Easter Monday for a Grade 2 hurdle race over two and a half miles."

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