Trainer Gordon Elliott has confirmed that he will Apple’s Jade over the Christmas period after her stunning Grade One win at Fairyhouse earlier this month.

The four-year-old proved too much for her rivals on December 4 as she won the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.

She beat former stablemate Vroum Vroum Mag to victory, while the likes of Shaneshill, Ivanovich Gorbatrov and Dedigout failed to keep up.

The bay filly has impressed so far this season after finishing second on two occasions before her win at Fairyhouse.

The former Willie Mullins stable star was expected to run again over the Christmas period with Elliott deciding against both the Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle and the Ryanair Hurdle.

Confirming his plans, Elliott told at The Races: “We won’t run her over Christmas. We’ll keep her for a few weeks until after Christmas.”

While Apple’s Jade will not feature, Elliott is expected to be very busy over the next week or so.

Leopardstown’s four-day meeting over Christmas will give Elliott plenty of chances to run some of his stable, with Prince of Scars one to watch in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase on December 29.

Elliott added: “We’ve got plenty for the novice chases. Prince Of Scars will go for the three-mile, Diamond King I’m sure will go for something and I’ll have runners in nearly every race I’d say over Christmas.”

The Irish trainer confirmed on Monday that Don Cossack will not be in action until February following an injury. The 2016 Gold Cup winner is 9.00 to win the race again next year.