held up, badly hampered 5th, closed approaching final hurdle to track leaders, lost place and no impression over 1f out
raced in 3rd, fell 5th
soon disputed lead, headed from 3rd, pushed along briefly approaching 4th where back on terms, led 5th, joined at final hurdle, soon narrow leader again, strongly pressed and kept on well final furlong, headed near line
held up, slightly impeded 5th, soon raced in 3rd, 4th at 8th, soon 3rd again, still travelling smoothly into straight, no impression under pressure inside final furlong, one pace
soon disputed lead, led from 3rd, joined next, headed 5th and raced in 2nd, on terms at final hurdle, soon narrowly headed, stayed on well final furlong to lead near line
soon raced in 4th, badly hampered 5th, 3rd before 8th, soon 4th again, no impression over 1f out
APPLE'S JADE gained her ninth victory on her 13th start when making all and easily beating Nichols Canyon in the Hatton's Grace over 2m4f at Fairyhouse. This will be her first attempt at this trip but her allowance can see her home against the runner-up, who should come into his own over this extra distance having won the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham when Jezki ran poorly. The latter has bounced back to form over the minimum trip but has no problems staying as he showed when beating Hurricane Fly in the World Hurdle at Punchestown in 2015. All of the remainder are smart performers on their day and though Supasundae was beaten 11 lengths by the selection last time the Coral Cup winner will find this trip much more to his liking.
Jezki (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Raced in 3rd, improved into 2nd after 3rd, pushed along and ridden after 2 out, no impression before last and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 4, 16l behind Faugheen (11-10) at Punchestown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Nichols Canyon 2-1 (11-10) Raced in 2nd, pushed along and not match winner from 2 out where pecked, no impression when jumped right last, one pace, 2nd of 7, 9l behind Apple's Jade (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
Supasundae 14-1 (11-10) Soon raced in 5th, slight mistake 3 out and pushed along, soon lost place, not much room approaching straight and stumbled slightly, soon no impression until 5th again and slight mistake last, kept on well without threatening run-in into 3rd at line, 3rd of 7, 10 3/4l behind Apple's Jade (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
Bapaume (FR) (10-8) 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Prince Ali (10-8) at Auteuil 2m 3f Grp 1 hvy in Jun.
Apple's Jade (FR) Evensfav (11-3) Made all, pushed along straight, ridden to assert from 2 out, stayed on well from before last, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec beating Nichols Canyon (11-10) by 9l, 7 ran.
Augusta Kate 16-1 (11-3) In rear, slightly slow in jumping and pushed along at stages, 6th approaching straight, no extra from before 2 out, 6th of 7, 34 1/4l behind Apple's Jade (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
Lieutenant Colonel 6-1 (11-0) Close up in 2nd and disputed at times, slight mistake 7th and soon dropped to 3rd, 2nd before 4 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no impression on leaders 2 out, kept on one pace, dropped to 4th run-in, 4th of 12, 13 1/4l behind Monksland (11-0) at Thurles 2m 7f Yielding in Oct.
