Stayers Hurdle: key questions and quotes as Apple's Jade bids to bounce back

Ryanair Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m½f, 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

Can Apple's bob back to her best?

The much-anticipated clash between Apple's Jade and Buveur D'Air in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham may have been a disappointment, but Gordon Elliott thinks his supremely talented mare can scale the heights at Aintree.

A dirty scope was blamed for her below-par effort at the festival, where she finished sixth behind Espoir D'Allen, beaten 30 lengths.

Prior to that reverse, the seven-year-old had rattled off four consecutive wins, and such was the manner of her victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle she was sent off 7-4 favourite at Cheltenham.

Extremely versatile trip-wise, Apple's Jade should not have a problem returning to three miles, having been successful over the distance three starts ago at Leopardstown.

Elliott said: "She was disappointing in the Champion Hurdle and scoped dirty after the race. You never know what to expect coming here after Cheltenham but she has been in good form at home and going back up in trip shouldn't be a problem."

Will Spinner build on his return to form?

It has been a difficult season for those associated with Sam Spinner for a variety of reasons, but the seven-year-old's flame was reignited at Cheltenham when he was a gallant runner-up to Paisley Park in the Stayers' Hurdle.

With that rival not making the trip to Liverpool, the stage appears set for another good run from Jedd O'Keeffe's stable star, especially with the ground on the slow side.

"We were very happy to see the rain falling on Thursday," O'Keeffe said.

"Sam Spinner appears to be in great shape. We were very pleased with his Cheltenham run and he's not been trained hard since then."

He added: Apple's Jade will be hard to beat if she's back on form and we're giving her 7lb, but we'll give it a good go."

Can Roksana strike again for Skelton?

Apple's Jade may be the mare to beat according to the betting, but Roksana left the Cheltenham Festival a Grade 1 winner after taking the Mares' Hurdle.

Fortune was on her side that day with favourite Benie Des Dieux departing at the last with the race at her mercy, but Roksana was on hand to take advantage and now bids for a second success at the highest level.

KEY STAT

Thirteen of the 15 winners had run at a previous Grand National meeting, with 12 of them finishing first or second previously.

She has run well at Aintree before, finishing a length and a half adrift of Santini in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle last season, and Skelton said: "She’s in great form. You have to wait and see how runners come out of Cheltenham at Aintree, but I’m very happy with her.

"She’s taking on a new set of horses at the top end but gets 7lb and stays the trip well. I haven’t seen any negatives."

What they say

Harry Fry, trainer of If The Cap Fits and Unowhatimeanharry
If The Cap Fits is trying the trip for the first time and has looked like he's worth trying at it. He could do with the ground drying to be at his best. Unowhatimeanharry won't mind the underfoot conditions. We deliberately skipped Cheltenham; he's not getting any younger but we hope he can be competitive.

Joe Tizzard, assistant to Colin Tizzard, trainer of Kilbricken Storm and West Approach
West Approach was disappointing at Cheltenham but his form before that, when runner-up twice to Paisley Park, is rock solid. He doesn't win that often but he's definitely got an each-way chance. I think Kilbricken Storm probably needed the run at Cheltenham. He hurt himself at Newbury in December and had to stand in his box for six weeks. If he could reproduce his form of last season, when winning the Albert Bartlett, he'd have a chance.

Phil Kirby, trainer of Nautical Nitwit
There aren't many places we can go and the ground is a bit softer than ideal.

Nicky Martin, trainer of Sykes
He's ten and deserves his shot at a big race. He's always carrying top weight in handicaps, so we thought we'd come here instead. It plays to our favour they've had as much rain as they have. I know he's an outsider but we're quietly confident.

Tom George, trainer of The Worlds End
He hasn’t really enjoyed it over fences on his last couple of runs. We thought we’d switch him back and see how he gets on.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Wholestone
He ran well at Cheltenham but keeps finding one or two too good these days.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of William Henry
He was great at Cheltenham and the handicapper has somewhat forced him into a race like this, so we'll see how he gets on.

Spotlight verdict

The brilliant mare Apple's Jade will take some beating if back on song but she's taken on with If The Cap Fits.

For the must-have offers for the Aintree festival tap the free bets button on the racecard page or search racingpost.com/free-bets