Gigginstown: ‘We aren’t ready to write an epitaph for Apple’s Jade just yet’

Gigginstown have nipped any talk of Apple’s Jade retiring firmly in the bud and breathed life into a conversation surrounding the great mare’s quest for an 11th Grade 1 and a fourth straight Hatton’s Grace Hurdle victory at Fairyhouse on December 1.

Less than 24 hours after Apple’s Jade suffered a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Bacardys in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan on Sunday, Gigginstown’s Eddie O’Leary warned against writing off the ten-time Grade 1 winner.

Confirming that retirement is not on the agenda for the Gordon Elliott-trained star, who remains firmly on course for Fairyhouse, O’Leary joked: “I hope she's beyond the childbearing age when she retires – it's a racehorse we want.”

He added: “We won't be writing her epitaph just yet. A lot of Gordon's seem to have needed the run this year so we're hoping that it was the same for her. If not, so be it.

Apple's Jade: retirement is not on the agenda for the great mareCredit: Patrick McCann

“Nobody died. She ran listless and the old spark just wasn't there. If the old spark continues not to be there then we might have something to think about, but hopefully we'll see a different mare in the Hatton's Grace.”

Sunday’s sub-par performance comes off the back of a bitterly disappointing spring for Apple’s Jade, who was beaten at the Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown festivals.

However, O’Leary was keen to point out that Apple’s Jade has suffered defeat on her reappearance run in the past and remains hopeful that the prolific hurdler can come on a bundle fitness-wise in time for the Hatton's Grace.

O’Leary said: “She has been beaten on her first start back before. She's not a machine but she's a great mare and I hope she continues to be a great mare. She was an honourable second on Sunday and hopefully she can build on that.”

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Gigginstown at Navan as Abacadabras sauntered to an easy Grade 3 success in the For Auction Novice Hurdle, earning himself a crack at the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.

The Grade 3 win of Abacadabras meant it was not all doom and gloom for Gigginstown at Navan on SundayCredit: Patrick McCann

O’Leary said: “Abacadabras has always been a horse who was well regarded in Gordon's. He was very good and I'd imagine the Royal Bond will be next for him.”

He added: “Embittered was very good at Naas [on Saturday] as well. Joseph's [O’Brien] horses also seem to have been coming on from their first run so hopefully that'll bring him on to the next level.”

That Fairyhouse fixture promises to be an important one for Gigginstown with Samcro also in line to run in the Drinmore Novices Chase, a race that Battleoverdoyen was also touted for, however the latter could have a more immediate target.

O’Leary concluded: “We certainly won't run Samcro and Battleoverdoyen against each other in the Drinmore. Hopefully Samcro will get there in one piece. We might look at the Florida Pearl [at Punchestown on November 17] for Battleoverdoyen. He wants three miles.”

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