Leading Irish trainer Willie Mullins is set to make his final decision on whether his Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Appreciate It will take on the Queen of Jumps racing Honeysuckle at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Second in the 2020 Champion Bumper to stablemate Ferny Hollow, the eight year old has had a perfect career since, thriving since going over hurdles.
Handily winning his maiden at Cork, he was swiftly moved onto graded company and duly obliged by winning the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown. Travelling strongly throughout, he established his lead bypassing the last and skipped clear on the run-in to victory.
He them backed that run up over the same course and distance at the Dublin Racing Festival, fending off the challenge of Ballyadam to take Grade One honours again.
⭐️ Appreciate It - he's the real deal
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 16, 2021
🏇 Four runs over hurdles
🥇 Four wins
🏆 Three-time Grade One winner
✅ Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero
All class from Appreciate It in the opener of the 2021 #CheltenhamFestival for @WillieMullinsNH & @PTownend pic.twitter.com/xFKf4yq0lp
Appreciate It was last seen making it a hat-trick if Grade Ones when breezing clear in the 2021 Supreme Novices' Hurdle to win by 24 lengths.
Set to go chasing this term a set back scuppered those plans, with Mullins stating he would stay over hurdles this term with the Champion Hurdle a key target.
Looking to have a prep run ahead of the event, the Closutton maestro is yet to make up his mind whether he will make his seasonal debut in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the DRF or alternatively he could end up in the Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran Park later in the month.
(Credit ATR) Mullins said: “We’ve no decision made yet. He worked well the other week and he’ll work again this week, then we’ll see where we go.
“It’s all up in the air at the moment. I chatted to the owner (Michael Masterson) there after Kilcruit won and he’s happy to let him work and see where we are.”
