Dublin Racing Festival: Apple’s Jade stamps her authority on hurdling division with stylish display in Irish Champion Hurdle
The mare made all to demolish the best hurdlers Ireland had to offer and the calls are growing for her to run in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham
APPLE'S JADE made a mockery of her rivals in the Irish Champion Hurdle.
In doing so she notched up her tenth Grade 1 and cemented herself as the most likely challenger to Buveur D'Air's Champion Hurdle hat-trick attempt.
She was backed into odds-on before the off and set out to make all under Jack Kennedy.
The signs were ominous from a good way out as first Tombstone and Farclas began to feel the pace.
Melon made two bad errors on the back straight and it was left to Supasundae to run in Apple's Jade shadows.
Kennedy stacked them in behind on the home bend but pushed clear with ease when he gave the wonder mare a squeeze to the cheers of the passionate Irish crowd.
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The Champion Hurdle seems the next logical step. Well, not if your surname is O'Leary.
"If they let me run a gelding in the Mares' Hurdle, she'll run in the Champion", came the retort from her owners.
Jockey Jack Kennedy said: "She's unbelievable no matter what trip it is and she makes very good horses look ordinary. They came with me early on, but the further we went the further clear she went. She's special.
"She's the best hurdler I've ridden, full stop. I know I'm still only a young lad, but when you are growing up that's what you dream about - riding top class horses. It's very exciting."
Supasundae put up a gallant defence of his crown in second for Jessica Harrington, but he had no answer to Apple's Jade.
Petit Mouchoir stuck on for third with Melon disappointing in fourth.
Meanwhile at Sandown, Buveur D'Air put his Christmas Hurdle horror show behind him with a procession of his own in the Listed Contenders Hurdle.
The race has been won by Nicky Henderson's star for three seasons on the trot and will hoping for a famous third success in the Champion Hurdle to match his Sandown exploits.
Whether he has Apple's Jade to deal with is anyone's guess...