Lismullen Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 5m 18.40s

Apple's Jade^t¹⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 154| D

8/15

Winner of five Grade Ones including the mares crowns at Punchestown and Cheltenham last term. Gives away a fitness advantage to some useful rivals here, but a record of seven wins and four seconds in eleven starts indicates she is the one to beat.

Form: 221211-

Flaxen Flare^p¹⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| D

33/1

Winner of the Fred Winter in 2013 and sparing raced since. Latest effort indicated he retains ability but is probably not the force he was and that makes this a stiff task.

Form: F11/3U-2

Monksland¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 147| C| D

9/1

Finished well behind Apple's Jade at Fairyhouse last term in the Hatton's Grace. Fourth in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham and looks just below top-class. Needs a couple to have an off day in order to follow up the yard's victory in this in 2016.

Form: F3624-1

Jer's Girl⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 146| BF| D

9/4

Closely matched with Apple's Jade on juvenile form and was travelling well behind that mare when coming down three at Cheltenham in March. Fit from a victory on the Flat and a disappointing run at Tipperary behind Jezki which may have come too soon.

Form: 1/125F-4

Non-Runners

Duca De Thaix¹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 4

T: G Elliott J: D F O'Regan

Forecasts

Apple's Jade (8/15), Jer's Girl (9/4), Monksland (9/1), Flaxen Flare (33/1), Duca De Thaix (33/1)

Apple's Jade will prove a tough nut to crack on her return to action. It is unlikely she will be fully tuned for this and if there is to be an achilles heel, this might prove to be it. JER'S GIRL has put in some good performances against Gordon Elliott's star and was going nicely in the mares race at Cheltenham when making an uncharacteristic error and falling. In receipt of 7lb this would represent an ideal opportunity to get one over her rival.