Mullins' bumper winner Appreciates the step-up in trip

Willie Mullins has been out of luck in the big feature races so far at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, but Appreciate It (11/10 fav) gave him a double on the card when making all in the Paddy Power Games INH Flat Race.

He stretched away in the straight to beat Freedom To Dream (8/1) by six lengths, with Mahler Allstar (14/1) a further head back in third place. Melon had been the first leg of the double, and the champion trainer was also on the mark with Colreevy at Limerick.

A scopey gelding by Jeremy, the winner was third to no less a horse than Envoi Allen on his point-to-point debut at Ballinaboola last year, before going two places better next time at Dromahane. He was third to yesterday’s Limerick maiden hurdle winner Assemble at Fairyhouse last month in his first run in bumpers.

“That was a very good performance, said winning trainer Willie Mullins.

"Patrick said riding him at home that he’d come on a lot from his last run and you can see the evidence of that today.

“He showed a nice turn of foot albeit over two and a half miles. He did it the hard way making all and I liked the way he changed gear in the last two furlongs.

“He’s a real chaser in the making but I’d imagine we might try and go down the Cheltenham bumper route.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee