Benie Des Dieux confirmed her superiority over Apple’s Jade in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Annie Power Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown. Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old had done most of her racing over fences in Ireland before the Cheltenham Festival, when it was largely considered that Apple’s Jade was below her best. Gordon Elliott’s Apple’s Jade was sent off the 5-6 favourite to get her revenge and made an early bid for home under Jack Kennedy. Augusta Kate, a stablemate of the winner, came from nearly last down the back straight to pass Apple’s Jade after the last. Townend said: “Robbie (Power) set a good gallop (on Forge Meadow) and Jack took it off him (on Apple’s Jade).

Source: The Irish Times April 28, 2018 15:37 UTC