Emphatic rather than exceptional but Appreciate It gets job done for Mullins

We've been here before. Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014) and Klassical Dream (2019) won this on their way to Supreme glory at the Cheltenham Festival and Appreciate It is now 13-8 favourite with Betfair and Paddy Power to do likewise. This was not as exceptional as his Christmas exhibition, but emphatic nonetheless.

Paul Townend kept it simple, the way his predecessor Ruby Walsh used to, and always appeared to have matters under control. There was a fleeting moment, about 100 yards from the final flight, when it looked like Ballyadam might sweep by but good horses get themselves out of holes and Appreciate It soon showed him who was boss.

Perhaps, if anything, it is an indication of the regard in which Appreciate It is held that Townend and trainer Willie Mullins found flaws in the performance.

Appreciate It and Paul Townend (green sleeves) lead the fieldCredit: Patrick McCann

Mullins said: "I'd like him to have jumped better today. I thought he was a little careless down the back. I think he can jump better than that."

Townend agreed, but pointed to the fact that winning ugly is a positive. Not that this was in any way ugly.

"He wasn't as breathtaking as he was at Christmas but he ground it out, which is the sign of a good horse," the winning rider said.

"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."

He did indeed get it done, and having stamina as your strong suit often stands you in good stead in the Supreme.

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Champagne Fever proved that, and Vautour went on to wow us all over further when he switched to fences too, so if Appreciate It is in front turning for home in the festival opener you know he will take a bit of catching.

He will head straight there and Mullins added: "After the second-last there looked to be a gang of horses queuing up behind him and the next thing he came clear and there was just one horse, Ballyadam.

"He then got tired going to the last and fluffed it, leaving it up to our fella. He has a good engine. He did it well in the end and we will go to the Supreme now I would imagine."

Last year's Champion Bumper runner-up is three from three over hurdles and he was three and a quarter lengths too strong for Ballyadam at the line. There were a further two and three-quarter lengths back to Blue Lord in third, providing Mullins with a 1-3 in the race he has farmed for the last decade.

Samcro (2018) is the only horse to have broken Mullins' vice-like grip on this Grade 1 since 2013 and Appreciate It has as much potential as any of his previous winners.

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