Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 4m 53.20s

Airlie Beach¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140

16/1

Below par on last two runs but even previous efforts leave her with something to find. Stable have taken last four runnings and are again well represented in this.

Form: 111106

Apple's Jade^t⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Cooper| T: G Elliott| OR: 154

1/1

Landed her fourth Grade One victory at Cheltenham when accounting for Vroum Vroum Mag for the second time this term. Gutsy mare who is yet to finish out of the first two and it will take an off day to beat her.

Form: 122121

Augusta Kate¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146

7/2

Took a huge step forward when beating stable companion Let's Dance in a Fairyhouse Grade One last time. Similar conditions here and can test the favourite, particularly if cutting out the errors.

Form: 2-11F61

Barra^t²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 136

20/1

Looks well held on form and only mid-division here on Thursday. This will be her third run since Cheltenham and hard to see why she should find the necessary improvement.

Form: 215236

Karalee³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins

11/4

Has looked very useful in suppressing much weaker opposition in performances almost two years apart. Supplemented by master trainer who has taken the last four runnings of this and their main hope based on jockey bookings.

Form: 2/1-1

Lady Buttons⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 132

50/1

This is a huge step up from the mid-level handicaps she has been collecting this winter. Has been trained with this in mind and arrives fresh having bypassed the spring festivals.

Form: P/P3111

Whiteout¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145

20/1

Beat Limini in this last year. Looks held by Apple's Jade on a number of form lines. Form has been patchy since and she was poor last time.

Form: 1P74F4

Forecasts

Apple's Jade (1/1), Karalee (11/4), Augusta Kate (7/2), Airlie Beach (16/1), Whiteout (20/1), Barra (20/1), Lady Buttons (50/1)

Willie Mullins has won the last four runnings of this and is strongly represented again. Last year's winner Whiteout has not been the same horse since and it is doubtful she will have improved enough to dispel her disappointing run 12 days ago. Karalee is the choice of Ruby Walsh having come through two educational races unscathed. If she is considered better than Augusta Kate she must be something very special indeed. Paul Townend's mount beat Let's Dance at Fairyhouse and that makes her the chief threat, on form, to APPLE'S JADE. The mare has won six of her ten starts including the David Nicholson at Cheltenham in March. Having beaten Vroum Vroum Mag twice this season she sets the clear standard.