Apple's Jade bids to bounce back Apple's Jade will face five rivals in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle tomorrow. The striking mare was narrowly beaten in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season before spectacular displays at Aintree and Punchestown. The former Willie Mullins inmate, who carries the colours of Gigginstown House Stud, disappointed on her first start for Gordon Elliott at Down Royal and bids to bounce back. Gigginstown manager Eddie O'Leary told the Irish Independent: "When she won by a huge margin last season, Aintree was very soft and she was not letting herself down on the ground at Down Royal. "She wasn't fit - she gave a heave. We hope to see the benefit of that and plenty of improvement now." Gigginstown and trainer Henry de Bromhead teamed up to land last year's Fighting Fifth with Identity Thief and combine with Petit Mouchoir this time. The five-year-old was a shade under two lengths behind Apple's Jade at Down Royal, but is the choice of Gigginstown's retained rider Bryan Cooper, with Jack Kennedy partnering the Elliott runner. "He seems in good form. He had a nice run in Down Royal the other day," said De Bromhead. "It's a very good race and good timing. It's very good prize-money and a Grade One and they looked after us very well there last year. "We'll take one race at a time. He wasn't far off the top novice hurdlers last year and we'll see how he progresses." Shark Hanlon's stable stalwart Hidden Cyclone completes the Irish challenge. Sceau Royal disappointed when well fancied for the Triumph Hurdle and also failed to fire on his final juvenile appearance at Aintree. He made a flying start to the new campaign at Cheltenham in October, however, and was an impressive winner of the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton at the beginning of the month, earning a return to Grade One level at Gosforth Park this weekend. The Paul Nicholls-trained Irving won this prize in 2014 and bids to regain his crown, with Mirsaale from Keith Dalgleish's yard completing the field.
