Sky Bet Supreme Novices Hurdle (Grade 1)
AT the start of a Cheltenham Festival like no other there were at least some constants at play and one of those was the incomparable Willie Mullins whose uncanny knack of delivering with a short-priced favourite in the meeting’s opener was yet again in evidence as Appreciate It towered above his overmatched rivals.
After a hitherto flawless campaign which had taken in two Grade 1 triumphs at Leopardstown, Appreciate It faced a paltry turnout of seven rivals. In truth he could have had 27 rivals to beat and the result would have been the same. The electrifying manner of his initial top level success at Leopardstown at Christmas was back as he tore this field apart in the style of a singular talent.
Despite his position as the overwhelming 8/11 favourite the Margaret Masterson-owned gelding still had to convince some as his position at the forefront of the novice hurdling division. Now though there can be no doubters as he produced a stunning effort under Paul Townend which made one wonder as to how this son of Jeremy has actually suffered two defeats in his career.
The race itself went smoothly for the winner who looked on from second spot before taking over at the second last where old rival Ballyadam’s jumping frailties surfaced once again as he blundered away his chance. Once Paul Townend let out an inch or two of rein the race was all over. Appreciate It stormed clear of the field, jumped the final flight as though it were the first and finished with some 24 lengths to spare. Ballyadam took the runner-up berth after Blue Lord, a stablemate of the winner, crashed out at the final flight when holding a clear second.
“When he came in Paul said he had so much in the tank, he was really pleased,” said Mullins. “I’m sorry for Blue Lord who was running so well when he came down.
“At the start of the year I was probably aiming for the Ballymore and possibly the Albert Bartlett with Appreciate It but this just shows how wrong I was. If he jumps fences like he does hurdles he could be Arkle material next year. He looks like a three-mile chaser but the fact he has won three championship events over two miles this season is astounding.”
Sporting Life Arkle Challenge
Trophy Novices Chase (Grade 1)
THE meeting’s opener represented smooth sailing through calm waters for an odds-on chance and it was an identical story in this two-mile championship as Shishkin hardly broke sweat to make it eight wins from as many completed starts.
After looking flawless in his first three outings over fences, Nicky Henderson’s gelding faced a pretty straightforward task when chief rival Energumene was ruled out of the race last week. Even so the 2020 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero had to go out and do it and he achieved his latest success in typically classy style to give his trainer a seventh win in a race he first won with Remittance Man in 1991.
In future Shishkin will face much tougher tests than the one he encountered here but in terms of championship two-mile chasing the torch looks set to pass seamlessly from Altior to this Marie Donnelly-owned son of Sholokhov.
As expected Allmankind set off in front but he was almost immediately joined by Captain Guinness and this pair served up quite a duel up front throughout the first mile and a quarter. Indeed there was a period from five out to four out where one wondered whether the speed duel in front of him had Shishkin out of his comfort zone.
If there was concern it was only momentary and the race was over when he moved to the front for Nico de Boinville with three to jump. The 4/9 favourite emerged off the last bend full of running while his rivals appeared to be treading water and two spring-heeled leaps at the final two fences put the seal on a 12-length success. The patiently-ridden Eldorado Allen came through to secure second place while Captain Guinness was an honourable third.
“We’ve just been so lucky with these two-mile chasers, it’s extraordinary. Altior followed Sprinter Sacre and now it looks like we have another one on our hands in this horse,” remarked Henderson. “It’s not the same here and could never be without the people but the racing still does the same to you and it still feels scary watching them all the way around.”
“He has a long way to go before he matches the achievements of Sprinter Sacre and Altior but they weren’t any better when they won the Arkle and this horse could not have done any more than he did,” added the trainer.