Russell reflects on Jade's Leopardstown win Davy Russell believes Apple's Jade's determined success at Leopardstown over the festive period will give her even more confidence heading into the spring. Gordon Elliott's prolific mare lunged late to claim her seventh victory at Grade One level in the Christmas Hurdle on what was her first appearance over three miles. While she was made to pull out all the stops to beat Supasundae by half a length, Russell revealed he was always confident during the race. He told At The Races: "It was her first run over three miles and we felt she'd stay, but I didn't feel there was much point in committing her two and a half furlongs down, especially in Leopardstown, and be wrong if she didn't stay. "You leave yourself open to criticism and people would say I should have got at them a bit earlier, because she's so tough, but when you ride an exceptional filly like her, nine times out of 10 they'll get you out of trouble. The plan you're trying to execute will usually come off when you're riding the best horse in the race. "Winning a race like that would give her as much confidence as it would us. You can't beat winning, and winners always tend to keep winning. "She knows she can beat pretty much anything in a battle. That's the feeling I got off her." Apple's Jade is set to head straight to the Cheltenham Festival in March to defend her crown in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle. She is a best priced even-money favourite with William Hill.
