Bacardys too good for Apple's Jade in Lismullen Hurdle
Bacardys sprang a surprise at Navan when denying Apple's Jade a third win in the feature Lismullen Hurdle.
The 1/4 favourite set out to make all the running but having been harried by Magic Of Light, was in trouble as the 10/3 winner was pulled out to challenge after the second last.
Paul Townend's mount found a change of gear to leave the market leader toiling and a safe leap at the last sent him on his way for a nine-and-a-half length success.
The winner is trained by Willie Mullins and his son and assistant Patrick said: "He deserved that - it's his first win since I won on him at Punchestown a couple of years ago.
"He looked fantastic in the parade ring beforehand. Myself and Willie had a bit of an argument about three weeks ago, because 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'll probably go for the Hatton's Grace now and then the three-mile hurdle in Leopardstown at Christmas."
Elliott was not making any excuses for Apple's Jade - who now has something to prove, having also failed to fire in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, in the Aintree Hurdle and at Punchestown at the end of last season.
He said: "We scoped her, and she was clean. The vets examined her, and she was grand. Puppy (Power) 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 Two and she runs her heart out every day. It's disappointing she didn't win, but she's not a machine. I'll talk to Michael and Eddie (O'Leary), but she's been a horse of a lifetime and she doesn't owe us anything."
