Hatton’s Grace Hurdle betting tips on Horsebetting.com recommend Apple’s Jade for a third consecutive success in the 2m 4f Grade 1 contest. Supasundae placed twice behind the Gordon Elliott trained star mare, so is feared most at Fairyhouse for Jessica Harrington. Sutton Place, meanwhile, is an each-way alternative in a cracking renewal of this feature race on Sunday, 2 December. Read further details below in our 2018 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle betting tips preview.Apple’s Jade prime for Hatton’s Grace hat-trickApple’s Jade is chasing a historic hat-trick in the Grade 1 feature Hatton’s Grace Hurdle over 2m 4f at Fairyhouse on Sunday (14:40), and is well-fancied to get it for Gordon Elliott. Only Solerina has won this race three times on the spin before, but this similarly ultra-tough mare can match her and the mighty Limestone Lad here, having bounced back to form last time out.
The six-year-old has won 11 of her 17 career starts and never finished out of the frame. Apple’s Jade won two Grade 1s as juvenile when trained by Willie Mullins, but then owners Gigginstown House Stud moved many of their horses over to County Meath handler Elliott.
She got her first victory for him at the third time of asking in this race two years ago, having suffered narrow defeats in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal and Newcastle’s feature Fighting Fifth. Apple’s Jade engaged in an almighty tussle with fellow mare Vroum Vroum Mag here, getting headed on the run-in before gamely battling back and landing the spoils by a short-head.
There was no doubting her credentials as the top mare in National Hunt training in 2016-17 as she landed Grade 1 events at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals. Apple’s Jade then reappeared in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan last season where she scored by a cosy couple of lengths.
Already won this race twice
Elliott’s charge was then an equally hot favourite when defending her crown in this 12 months ago. Apple’s Jade bolted up by nine lengths, making all and staying on well to trounce the ill-fated Nichols Canyon. She was then stepped up to 3m for the first time for the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown, running on well to lead close home and the beat re-opposing Supasundae by half-a-length.
Apple’s Jade was then an out of sorts third at the Cheltenham Festival in March and beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Benie Des Dieux. She filled the same spot behind that rival when beaten further in the Mares Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.
Anybody who wrote Apple’s Jade off did so at their peril, however, as she returned to action in the same race as last term at Navan. She was back to her very best here, making all and smashing Jezki by 11 lengths. That has put the daughter of Saddler Maker spot on for her Fairyhouse hat-trick.
As ever in these Grade 1s against the gelding, Apple’s Jade benefits from a 7lb sex allowance that puts her 1lb clear of Supasundae – who tends to need his first run – on adjusted rating. She simply cannot be opposed on all known form and therefore heads our 2018 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle betting tips.Supasundae still respectedJessica Harrington saddled the aforementioned Jezki to victory in this race back in 2013. Supasundae represents her yard here and the Alan and Ann Potts Ltd owned gelding ought to go at least one better than when third in this 12 months ago.
As noted above, the eight-year-old tends to need a run before stripping fitter for it. Supasundae is officially rated a 5lb better horse this year than last, however, and like Apple’s Jade is a highly versatile type.
Since joining Harrington for the 2016-17 campaign, he progressed throughout the season and peaked when landing the ultra-competitive Grade 3 Coral Cup over 2m 5f at the Cheltenham Festival. Connections then went to Aintree and Supasundae chased home Yanworth in the 3m Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle when beaten just a length.
That gave them confidence to campaign him at elite level last season. Supasundae reappeared in this when fifth jumping the last and staying on into third, but 11 lengths down on Apple’s Jade. He was then a much closer half-a-length runner-up to the mare when stepped back up to 3m in the Christmas Hurdle.
Versatile and consistent
Supasundae has won two of four Grade 1 starts since then – both over 2m. He collared the mighty Faugheen on the run-in at the inaugural Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown and landed the Irish Champion Hurdle by 2 1/4 lengths.
Although then second in the Stayers’ Hurdle to Penhill at Cheltenham and occupying the same spot behind L’Ami Serge when dropping back to the 2m 4f of this in the Aintree Hurdle, Supasundae then scored again in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle.
He returns to action off the same mark of 164 – the highest in this renewal. On adjusted ratings, Supasundae only has 1lb to find on Apple’s Jade, but he’ll need the run and we’re therefore keen to take him on. Our 2018 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle betting tips advise you do just that.Sutton Place gets each-way voteElliott has three other irons in this fire besides Apple’s Jade, and the most interesting of those is Sutton Place, who is back over hurdles for leading Irish owner JP McManus. He therefore appeals each-way over a quartet trained by Willie Mullins who are much of a muchness.
This seven-year-old was rated 160 before going novice chasing last season. Sutton Place is a course winner having landed a Grade 2 over 2m in March 2016. He also beat Supasundae by 7 1/2 lengths on reappearance in January 2017 in the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas.
Sutton Place also followed-up on that success with victory in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle over 2m 5f at Navan. Again, he was about seven lengths better than Supasundae, who got only finish fourth.
Interesting back over hurdles
Although then pulled up and found to be lame when stepped up to 3m at the Punchestown Festival, Sutton Place came out and won his chase debut last season. He beat Kemboy by a cosy three lengths and, unlike Supasundae, goes well fresh.
In a 10-runner race where a few have each-way claims, he appeals more than most. Sutton Place thus completes our 2018 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle betting tips in what promises to be a competitive renewal of this prestigious race.Your Next Bet
