Gordon Elliott’s Apple’s Jade heads the entries for Saturday’s Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown
GORDON ELLIOTT'S Apple's Jade is the headline act as just six horses remain in contention for Saturday's Irish Champion Hurdle.
The seven-year-old will drop in trip for the Grade 1 contest as she looks to bag her third straight Grade 1 victory.
Apple's Jade started her season with an impressive win in a Grade 2 contest at Navan.
She was quickly returned to the top level and ran out a scintillating winner in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
The winning margin was even greater at Leopardstown last time out when she put 26 lengths between herself and runner-up Early Doors in the Christmas Hurdle after her closest rival Faugheen crashed out.
That victory was over three miles but connections reckon she won't be inconvenienced by the drop back to two miles on Saturday.
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She could face two stablemates with both Tombstone and Farclas given the option.
The former holds a Champion Hurdle entry at Cheltenham but has failed to win over hurdles since February 2017 with his last two wins coming over the bigger obstacles.
Farclas landed the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival last year but fell last time out and finished a distant sixth behind Apple's Jade earlier in the season.
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Willie Mullins relies solely on Melon who finished fourth in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Jessica Harrington's Supasundae has finished runner-up on both of his starts this season and could take his chance.
The potential field is completed by Henry de Bromhead's Petit Mouchoir.