Shakira wins again at Cheltenham Apple's Shakira maintained her unbeaten record in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham, although she was made to work hard for her victory. Sent off the 1-7 favourite having been ultra-impressive in her two previous outings for Nicky Henderson, she briefly looked in trouble turning into the straight. Tom Scudamore stole a few lengths from the front on John Quinn's Look My Way and Barry Geraghty had to ask a few questions of the filly approaching the last but she ultimately ran out an eight-length winner. The big disappointment of the race was Philip Hobbs' French import Elixir De Nutz, who finished last. Henderson said: "Barry said at the last meeting she'd like better ground. "She had to work there, but she's very lazy at home. She had to come out and race but she won't run again. "We've had to wait for better ground for a lot of these horses and it will be the same next weekend, but they've got to run."
