Apple's Jade impressive in Mares Hurdle

Gordon Elliott may have lost out in an epic trainer’s championship race but he added another Grade 1 success to an incredible season as Apple’s Jade put up a scintillating performance to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

The evens favourite tracked the front-running Airlie Beach throughout, and quickly settled the issue when asserting off the home bend.

Bryan Cooper’s mount stayed on really strongly in the straight and had 14 lengths to spare over Airlie Beach at the line. Karalee was a further length and three quarters back in third, while Willie Mullins gained further important prizemoney by also saddled the fourth and fifth with Whiteout and Augusta Kate

A fantastic mare - Apple's Jade wins the @IrishEBF_ Mares Champion Hurdle! pic.twitter.com/849kXu1M6i

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 29, 2017

Elliott said, “She’s a very good mare and that was a great performance. I doubt if she will jump fences next year and the Mares Hurdle or the Stayers are possible targets for her.

“I was heart-broken leaving here last night but that equals Willie’s record of 193 winners in a season. I said coming here that if I could equal that it would be something. Of course I wanted to win (the trainers championship) but at least that is something good.”

Cooper said, “She did it very well. I was a little worried turning out of the back as she hit a flat spot. She's probably getting a bit better and racing a bit lazier.

“There was a bit of team tactics going down to the third last and Danny was keen to run me out of it but we got the rail. She stuck her head out and it's only when she got upsides she started racing.”