Gigginstown reveal reason behind Apple's Jade Cheltenham Festival flop

Apple's Jade: is bidding for back-to-back Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle victories at Leopardstown

Apple's Jade: failed to fire at Cheltenham and PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Gigginstown boss Eddie O’Leary has identified the reason behind Apple Jade's disappointing performances at Cheltenham and Punchestown last season.

The mare failed to fire in the second half of the campaign and O'Leary on Tuesday put her defeats down to "woman problems" after the seven-time Grade 1 winner kept coming into season in the spring.

Apple's Jade won her first three starts last season – the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle, followed by Grade 1 triumphs in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle [2m4f] and Squared Financial Hurdle [3m] – before being freshened up ahead of the mares' hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, in which she finished third behind Benie Des Dieux.

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Brian SheerinReporter

Published on 18 September 2018inNews

Last updated 11:07, 19 September 2018

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