Appreciate It and Paul Townend© Photo Healy Racing
Appreciate It gained consecutive Leopardstown Grade 1 wins today as the Willie Mullins trained gelding enhanced his Cheltenham credentials in winning the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle in the Kilcruit colours of owner Michael Masterson.
Ridden by Champion Jockey Paul Townend, the son of Jeremy today made most of the running in beating previous Grade 1 winner Ballyadam by three and a quarter lengths.
Townend was not initially taken by Appreciate It's performance, reporting “he wasn't as breath-taking as he was at Christmas but he ground it out which is the sign of a good horse.
“He didn't jump with as much fluency and was never in control of the race like I thought I could have been but the good ones get it done and thankfully he has done it.”
Somewhat reassuringly for Appreciate It's connections, today's fifth-placed Irascible (runner-up at Christmas) was beaten 9L by Appreciate It on both Leopardstown performances and trainer Mullins added “he was very good once Paul set him alight and I thought he put it to bed straight away.
“After the second last there looked to be a gang of horses queuing up behind to challenge him and the minute he changed gear there was only one horse, Ballyadam, and he fluffed the last.
“I’d like him to jump better than he did today. He was a bit careless down the back.”
Paddy Power later cut Appreciate It's price for the Cheltenham Supreme Novice Hurdle to 13/8, from 2/1.
Quotes from Alan Magee
