held up in rear, progress into moderate 3rd 3 out, left 2nd 2 out, soon ridden and no impression on leader, mistake last, lost 2nd run-in
settled behind leaders, soon moderate 3rd, dropped towards rear 3 out, soon no extra and weakened, tailed off
held up, 6th halfway, moderate 4th before 2 out where left 3rd, soon ridden and no impression, stayed on into 2nd run-in, no chance with winner
chased leader in 2nd, slight mistake 5th, fell heavily 2 out
held up early, moderate 4th halfway, ridden and no impression before 2 out, soon no extra
held up behind leaders, moderate 5th halfway, towards rear 4 out, no extra next, weakened 2 out
made all, 4-length advantage halfway, left well clear 2 out, pushed out before last, kept on strongly, easily
APPLE'S JADE only just got up to beat Supasundae in this last year, with Bapaume 5l in third and Jezki well beaten, but had the runner-up 20l behind in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse earlier this month where she looked better than ever. Her stable companion Cracking Smart reappears after a long absence and he looked a very smart prospect when scoring over this trip at Cork before twice runner-up to Next Destination. Faugheen was mightily impressive when stepped up to this trip in the Champion Stayers at Punchestown and didn't relish dropping back to the minimum on his comeback there last month. He's likely to attempt to make all again here and is by no means certain to be caught by the likely favourite though the weight concession may just tell at the finish.
Bapaume (FR) 14-1 (11-10) In rear, moderate 7th 4 out, pushed along and some progress before 2 out, ridden in moderate 4th 2 out, 3rd and mistake at last, no extra, 4th of 9, 23 1/2l behind Apple's Jade (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) gd in Dec.
Cracking Smart (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leader disputing 2nd, 3rd 4 out, ridden in 3rd 2 out, no impression on winner in 2nd at last, kept on well run-in, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Next Destination (11-10) at Naas 2m 4f (1) Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Early Doors (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Towards rear, some progress into moderate 7th before 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, 5th of 9, 25 1/4l behind Apple's Jade (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) gd in Dec.
Faugheen (IRE) 2-5fav (11-10) Led narrowly, not fluent 3 out, pressed and headed straight, not match winner and one pace from before last, 2nd of 4, 7 1/2l behind Sharjah (11-10) at Punchestown 2m (1) gd in Nov.
Jezki (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden and no impression from 2 out, 10th of 21, 9 3/4l behind Wonder Laish (10-10) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp gd in Dec.
Shaneshill (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division, no impression from 4 out, eased from 2 out, never a factor, 8th of 9, dist behind Apple's Jade (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) gd in Dec.
Apple's Jade (FR) 4-6fav (11-3) Tracked leader in 2nd and raced clear of remainder, improved to dispute lead 3 out, led travelling well entering straight, pushed along and clear 2 out, stayed on strongly run-in, easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) gd in Dec beating Supasundae (11-10) by 20l, 9 ran.
