Appreciate It wins Naas chase as Kennedy taken to hospital

Supreme Novice Hurdle winner Appreciate It maintained his unbeaten record over fences today, easily making all as 1/9 favourite to land Naas' otherwise dramatic Rathmore Stud Irish EBF Novice Chase.

The nine year old comfortably defeated Top Bandit to win on fences debut at Punchestown last month and today re-opposed that same rival which suffered a fatal fourth-fence fall. His jockey Jack Kennedy, who currently leads the championship, was taken away to Tallaght hospital for further assessment of a leg injury.

Successful trainer Willie Mullins wasn't present and winning jockey Paul Townend later reported “it was the same as the last day and you'd love to get a lead on him as he's idle in front. I was trying to teach him today, and win, without doing something silly.

“He showed me the last day that he's there when I need him. It's grand to get him out again and you'd have to be happy with everything he's doing. Every day is experience for him.”

Appreciate It was the second consecutive 2021 Cheltenham festival winner to score today, as Telmesomethinggirl landed the opener for owner Kenny Alexander, whose racing manager Peter Molony sponsored the second race, through his Rathmore Stud.

Quotes from Gary Carson