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http://www.racingpost.com/news/live.sd?event_id=21447024&category=0
Apple’s Jade looks set to stick to her own sex
By David Jennings 8:11AM 8 NOV 2016THE OLBG Mares’ Hurdle has emerged as the long-term aim for Apple’s Jade after Gordon Elliott revealed he is keen to step her up in trip and keep her against her own sex.
Apple’s Jade was last season’s outstanding juvenile, winning Grade 1s at Aintree and Punchestown by wide margins, but she made a tame debut for Elliott in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal on Friday and a Champion Hurdle challenge now looks increasingly unlikely.
“I will have to have a chat with the lads [Gigginstown] about her before deciding anything but I wouldn’t be surprised if we stepped her up in trip and kept her against her own sex,” Elliott said.
He added: “Maybe we should be questioning the juvenile form of last year after the way Ivanovich Gorbatov ran at Naas on Sunday. They might not have been the best bunch. I was disappointed after Apple’s Jade but we need to step her up in trip. If the ground came up soft we might have a think about the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse early next month but I’d be keen for her to stick to her own sex.”
Apple’s Jade is a standout 11-2 with Paddy Power for the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle but is as short as 3-1. She is a top price 16-1 for the Champion Hurdle having started last Friday a general 8-1 shot.
Have you laid her the Champion Hurdle as you seem very keen to ram this story home?
I didn’t bold the part in my post that you have quoted?
Anyway no I haven’t laid it chill out buddy. I’m just putting in the latest info into the thread about a high profile story. If it doesn’t interest you don’t read it.Elliott is correct in that there must be a doubt over the juvenile form but that’s hardly the point, she was head and shoulders above all the other juveniles at Aintree and Punchestown. His comments on her and Don Poli since their Down Royal runs have had a large dollop of covering his own ass imo. Very disappointing considering he was talking about the Champion Hurdle when he got the mare, now suddenly she’s slow and last year’s juveniles are no good.
Agreed, Tommy. Elliott’s comments seem most odd given he’s a man who usually talks a lot without saying anything.
To condemn two high class horses from his new employers as ‘slow’ after one run suggests the O’Learys are not as bright as they maybe thought they were. He must the have realised he was paying Willie a big compliment for managing to win with slow horses so has decided that last year’s young crop were no good.
Tying himself in knots. He’d never looked a man who’d buckle under pressure but I wonder if that’s exactly what’s happening.
Agreed, Tommy. Elliott’s comments seem most odd given he’s a man who usually talks a lot without saying anything.
To condemn two high class horses from his new employers as ‘slow’ after one run suggests the O’Learys are not as bright as they maybe thought they were. He must the have realised he was paying Willie a big compliment for managing to win with slow horses so has decided that last year’s young crop were no good.
Tying himself in knots. He’d never looked a man who’d buckle under pressure but I wonder if that’s exactly what’s happening.
You could well be right Joe. He seems to have done a good job with the lesser lights he received, such as Potters Point and Tell Us More, and Outlander ran a good race, but he appears almost lost as to what to do with these two at the moment.
I JUST FIND IT STRANGE THAT ELLIOTS HORSES ARE FLYING. BUT WHEN IT GETS TO 2 OF HIS TOP STARS THEY RUN SO POORLY. HAVE THEY TRAINED ON. DONT THINK ANYBODY KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON WITH BOTH. JADE SHOULD HAVE GIVE THEM A STONE AND A BEATING TO THOSE HORSES
DON POLI WAS BEAT AFTER 3 FENCES. I ALSO DONT BELIEVE YOU WILL SEE POLI AS THE SAME HORSE AS LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. WITH JADE ELLIOT NOT GOT A CLUE WHAT HE GOING TO DO WITH THE HORSE. SO SHOULD BE INTERESTING SEASON WITH THOSE 2 THIS YEAR
I notice that Apple’s Jade has been given an entry in the Fighting Fifth. Strange, if the comments of Elliott are to be taken at face value then this is just a waste of money. Or maybe as I hoped the dust may just have settled. At the time of writing she is still 33/1 with Paddy Power.
By shooting his mouth off Elliott has put Gigginstown in quite a difficult position. Back the trainer or the horse?
I would say get her fit for Newcastle and let’s see where she now stands with Sceau Royal. Those two aside it isn’t a strong entry. If she beats the King horse she will probably be back to her original price and it is game on again.
In the Morgiana also
Yes, I should have noticed that. On paper the Morgiana looks much tougher although it will no doubt cut up. The common denominator is that both races are two miles.
Another way of looking at Elliott’s comments about Apples Jade (and Don Poli) is: When they first came to him there were big expectations – probably too big. Now the expectations are less and it’s reduced the pressure on the trainer. Still a possibility she’s a Spring filly, but I’ll probably be interested if she turns up at Newcastle.
5/1 seems too big though, does someone somewhere know something I don’t?
Or may be it’s a reflection of the trainer’s words about being slow?
If the latter then price shouldn’t be too bad once final decs are up.Value Is EverythingOn last year’s form Apple’s Jade is a 1/2 shot, on this year’s run she is around a 9/4 shot.
Unless she isn’t going to run there is no sane reason why she should be a longer price than Petit Mouchoir.
At the start of yesterday Apple’s Jade was 8/1 which was cut throughout the day to 4/1 and now she has drifted back out to 5/1 with renewed support for Petit Mouchoir. The bookmakers appear to be assuming she isn’t going to run (particularly Paddy Power) and Gigginstown have said nothing.
Obviously, she should take her chance, ridden by Cooper, and if she bombs then that would be the time to take stock of the situation. The big question would be why she has seemingly gone from looking exceptional to ordinary in such a short space of time.
If she goes I hope this time they sit just off the pace. She showed plenty of pace to go clear of the winner in Triumph.
The race looks a match between her and Sceau Royal, another of that rubbish batch of juveniles.
Cooper now jocked up for Petit Mouchoir. So on that basis Apple’s Jade isn’t going to run. Incredibly, Apple’s Jade is still shortening in the market. Who would be stupid enough to back it?
At the end of the day a shocking decision from the owners. Pointless entries in both the Morgiana and Fighting Fifth but they were supposedly haggling over a few quid with Willie Mullins.
Confirmed for the Fighting Fifth and if she comes back to anywhere near her win at Aintree she will win with her head in her chest
does someone somewhere know something I don’t?
Yes……..
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Confirmed for the Fighting Fifth and if she comes back to anywhere near her win at Aintree she will win with her head in her chest
I hope you are right and good luck if you have gone with her. Personally, I fear the worst.
Between them Cooper and Elliott are still making all the wrong noises – not as good as last year, upping her in trip, juvenile form rubbish. You wouldn’t have thought we were talking about the same horse who a few months ago was potentially brilliant.
Elliott’s going to look a right plank if by some miracle she bolts up.
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