Bacardys © Photo Healy Racing
Apple’s Jade’s bid for a third successive Lismullen Hurdle was foiled as the 1/4 favourite was slammed by nine and a half lengths by Bacardys (10/3).
The market leader set out to make all in her customary fashion, but jockey Robbie Power started to get animated three hurdles from home as Magic Of Light tried to challenge.
Bacardys was travelling strongly in behind for Paul Townend, and jumped to the front two out before quickly going clear on the run to the last.
He was a bit long at that final flight and reached for it, but it didn’t halt his momentum and he galloped away for a decisive success from the one-paced odds-on favourite.
The winner was a Grade 1 winner in bumpers, and a dual Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler, but chasing didn’t really work out for him with a couple of falls from four starts over the larger obstacles.
Restored to hurdling last season, he ran sixth behind Paisley Park at Cheltenham before finishing runner-up in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers’ Hurdle at Punchestown behind Unowhatimeanharry.
“He deserved that, it's his first win since I won on him at Punchestown a couple of years ago, said Patrick Mullins, representing winning trainer Willie Mullins.
“He looked fantastic in the parade ring beforehand and had a great coat on him.
“Myself and Willie had a bit of an argument about three weeks ago as he wanted to school him over fences and I was saying he should stay over hurdles. We won one argument with him which is unusual!
“He ran very well in the spring in those staying hurdles but was always coming off a bad chasing preparation.
“Hopefully now with a full season over hurdles he can be competitive in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham and Punchestown.
“He probably has the speed for the Hatton's Grace and maybe the Aintree Hurdle as well. All those options are open.
“He'll probably go for the Hatton's Grace now and then the three-mile hurdles in Leopardstown at Christmas.
“We'll probably leave the chasing alone now. He's much more comfortable jumping hurdles.”
Paddy Power make Bacardys a 16/1 chance for the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
Gordon Elliott later gave his assessment of Apple's Jade s performance:"We scoped her and she was clean. The vets examined her and she was grand.
“Puppy said she never showed any zest at all. She's had four hard years now and we'll see how she is.
“She was second in a Grade 2 and she runs her heart out everyday. It's disappointing she didn't win but she's not a machine.
“She's only seven but she's been busy since she was three. I'll talk to Michael and Eddie but she's been a horse of a lifetime and she doesn't owe us anything.
“We'll get her checked out, get her down to Gerry Kelly, and see how she is but the vets examined her and she was sound after the race.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
