Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle
Grade 1, Leopardstown 13:50 €100,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1
Friday 28th December 2018

1 Apples Jade 8/13F
2 Early Doors 22/1
3 Bapaume 8/1
7 ran Distances: 26l, 3¼l, 6½l
Time: 6m 1.10s (slow by 22.10s)

Apple's Jade storms to another Grade One success

Winning at the highest level for the ninth time, Jack Kennedy decided to keep things simple and bounced out Apple’s Jade into an early lead.

She held around a four-length advantage over her main rival Faugheen, and both seemed happy enough with their positions as none of the other runners were able to lay up anywhere near them.

Despite jumping out to her right as the pace increased, Kennedy had not moved a muscle on the 8-13 favourite as he asked her to go about her business running towards the second last.

Ruby Walsh spotted the move and started to ask Faugheen to get closer, but Faugheen took off a stride too soon and suffered a crashing fall.

The former champion hurdler was on the ground for some time, but eventually rose to his feet after a couple of minutes and was walked back in by Walsh.

That gifted Gordon Elliott’s Apple’s Jade the race, but it would have taken something special from Faugheen to put it up to the mare, who finished full of running as Early Doors stayed on to take a remote second.

Kennedy said: “I had to make the running again on her, but it didn’t matter. (She) jumped great, travelled away, jumped the second last and she changed gears and was away from the back of it and galloped all the way to the line. She was very good.

“I could see on the big screen I was fairly well clear of what was in behind me. She’s unreal, she is a pleasure to be riding.

“She was in good form this time last year and then lost her way, so hopefully she can keep continuing this way anyway.”

The Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle
3m , Race Value: €100,000, Grade 1
7 ran
Going: Good to Yielding

Pos	D	Horse SP	Jockey Weight	Trainer	Age
1st		Apple's Jade (FR) 8/13f	J W Kennedy 11-3	G Elliott	6
2nd	26	Early Doors (FR) 22/1	M P Walsh 11-10	Joseph P O'Brien	5
3rd	3¼	Bapaume (FR) 8/1	N D Fehily 11-10	W P Mullins	5
4th	6½	Jezki (IRE) 25/1	B J Geraghty 11-10	Mrs J Harrington	10
5th	27	Shaneshill (IRE) 33/1	D J Mullins 11-10	W P Mullins	9
6th	40	Cracking Smart (FR) 10/1	D N Russell 11-10	G Elliott	6
F		Faugheen (IRE) 7/2	R Walsh 11-10	W P Mullins	10