Racecards
13:50 Leopardstown (IRE)
Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Good to Yielding
- Surface: Turf
- €100,000 added
- Winner: €59,000
- 2nd: €19,000
- 3rd: €9,000
- 4th: €4,000
- Form 3P5-214
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey N D Fehily
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
- Form 21/1122-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
settled behind leaders, soon moderate 3rd, dropped towards rear 3 out, soon no extra and weakened, tailed off
- Form 12930-5
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey Mark Walsh
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
- Form 1P261-2
- Age 10
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 169
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
chased leader in 2nd, slight mistake 5th, fell heavily 2 out
- Form 41P0-20
- Age 10
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up early, moderate 4th halfway, ridden and no impression before 2 out, soon no extra
- Form 4P3-388
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D J Mullins
held up behind leaders, moderate 5th halfway, towards rear 4 out, no extra next, weakened 2 out
- Form 1133-11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 162
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Jack Kennedy
made all, 4-length advantage halfway, left well clear 2 out, pushed out before last, kept on strongly, easily
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
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.
Formwatch
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.