Apple's Jade made all the running to win the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan for the second successive season.
Jack Kennedy hadn't asked a question of the leader turning in and she bounded clear from the second last to slam Jezki by 11 lengths.
It was a further three-and-a-quarter lengths back to Coney Island in third however the race was marred by a fatal injury sustained by Identity Thief.
Sky Bet cut the winner to 3/1 from 4/1 for the OLBG Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham and 10s from 14s for the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle. Spokesman Michael Shinners said: "There's no doubting it was an impressive return from Apple's Jade and she'll take high rank in whatever division connections decided to target."
A bittersweet race for Gigginstown - Apple's Jade returns with a commanding win in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at @NavanRacecourse, but Identity Thief suffers an injury in between the final two flights. More news when we get it... pic.twitter.com/yqwVcgYeHp
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 11, 2018
"She was good there today and we're delighted," said winning trainer Gordon Elliott. "She had to do the donkey work and she'll even come on a little bit from the run, but we're delighted - it was a great run."
He added: "We'll go to Fairyhouse now for the Hatton's Grace. I was very happy and she was a different mare than she was on her last two runs. It was nice to get her back on track. She showed a lot of her old spark. "
