Hat-trick heroine Apple's Jade aims to bounce back in red-hot Hatton's Grace

Gordon Elliott believes Apple's Jade will need to raise her game to register an unprecedented fourth success in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

The Bar One Racing-backed Grade 1 looks a stellar contest with star mares Benie Des Dieux and Honeysuckle attempting to take the three-time winner's crown, while Bacardys and Penhill also pose serious challenges.

Ten-time Grade 1 winner Apple's Jade produced a below-par comeback when well beaten by Bacardys in the Lismullen Hurdle, but Elliott feels it is difficult to expect high-class performers to continue churning out big-race wins.

"They're not machines and it's hard to turn them out day in day out," he said. "Altior is a very, very good horse and you see what can happen to him. He got beat but it's not the end of the world. We'll move on to the next day."

Apple's Jade is a best-priced 9-2 chance for the Hatton's Grace and Elliott added: "She's definitely improved at home, I'm just not sure we're there yet. She's going to have to up her game. It's a hot race, probably a hotter renewal than in the last couple of years, but we're looking forward to running her."

The Cullentra trainer looks to have a big weekend in store with star novice hurdlers and chasers competing in Grade 1 company at Fairyhouse and Borice running in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury.

Samcro made a bright start to his chasing career at Down RoyalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Elliott is set to be double-handed in the Baroneracing.com Drinmore Novice Chase on Sunday, with Samcro one of the intended runners.

"Samcro definitely runs in the Drinmore and he'll be joined by something else," said Elliott. "He has a new stable, we built a stable for him that he can walk in and out. I couldn't get him scoping clean [last season] so we have him in fresh air the whole time."

He added: "It was probably not the wisest thing to think that we were going to turn him into a Champion Hurdle horse but the way the year worked out with the ground being that quick, it might have been a blessing in disguise."

Champion Bumper hero Envoi Allen made a bright start to his hurdles career at Down Royal this month and looks set to tackle Sunday's Royal Bond Novice Hurdle alongside the promising Abacadabras.

Elliott said: "We've got a great bunch of novice hurdlers this year. I suppose Abacadabras is a speedy horse whereas with Envoi Allen, you could see him stepping up as the year goes on. He's a big galloping, staying horse. They're two exciting horses and someone has to get beaten."

Of Newbury-bound Galway Plate winner Borice, he said: "He's in good form and will travel over tomorrow, it's all systems go.

"He was a bit slow starting off [when first arriving from France]. He was sent over from Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, and their racing manager Anthony Bromley, as maybe an English National horse one day. We're still on track."

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