Apple's ripe for Punchestown test Apple's Jade bids to supplement her Cheltenham Festival success when she lines up for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday. Gordon Elliott's charge beat Vroum Vroum Mag and Limini in the Mares' Hurdle and faces a host of Willie Mullins-trained runners again. "She came out of her run at Cheltenham in great form," said Elliott. "She seems to thrive on her racing and her work since Cheltenham has been good. "The tongue tie didn't do her any harm at Cheltenham, so she'll wear that again." Elliott has also declared Barra but she ran on Thursday. Phil Kirby is responsible for Lady Buttons, winner of her last three but at a much lower level. "She was second in the Mares' Bumper at Aintree and at that stage of her career these are the races we thought she'd be competing in, to be honest," said Kirby. "Unfortunately, she had a setback and we had a bit of a blip with her but she's come right back to herself this season. "This might be a step too far, who knows? We won't know until we try and there's good money on offer. "She just wants nice ground - it doesn't have to be soft. I think she just handles heavy ground better than most, which is why people think she wants it soft. "Possibly her best trip is two-mile-two so on better ground two and a half miles should be fine for her."
