Gordon Elliott is no stranger to winners, and Apple's Jade decisively kept up his record at Leopardstown this afternoon in the Christmas Hurdle.

This was billed as a face-off between two Irish racing stalwarts in Apple's Jade and Faugheen, but the latter is safe and sound - along with jockey Ruby Walsh - after crashing out.

It is a successive win in the race for Elliott's mare, and Jack Kennedy rode a straightforward race to ensure that Apple's Jade won her ninth top-table race.

Early Doors ended in second-place following Faugheen's fall. Kennedy spoke after the race, fulsome in his praise for the filly:

"I had to make the running again on her, but it didn't matter. [Apple's Jade] jumped great, travelled away, jumped the second last and she changed gears and was away from the back of it and galloped all the way to the line.

"She was very good."

For more racing coverage today, be sure to tune into Friday Night Racing live on offtheball.com from 4:30pm - Neil Treacy will discuss strength and conditioning with Wayne Middleton, Strength and Conditioning Coach with The Jockey Pathway.

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