Cheltenham Festival News: Appreciate It still has Champion Hurdle value says Willie Mullins
Appreciate It sauntered to victory in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle
It's been a long twelve months away from the racecourse for Willie Mullins' talented Appreciate It. The Champion Hurdle 2022 on March 15 will be a welcome return.
Willie Mullins is confident Appreciate It is ready to go in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on March despite a year off the track.
The eight-year-old has not been seen since a 24-length win in the 2021 Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Mullins had expected Appreciate It to progress to fences, but an injury prompted a return to smaller obstacles and a crack at the Champion Hurdle on March 15.
"Appreciate It looks to be in great form at home. I had him away for a gallop last week and I was very, very happy with him - he galloped very well," Mullins said during a press visit to his yard on Wednesday morning.
"I'd say we have a good record with running horses first time out at Cheltenham. I don't know we've done it in a Champion Hurdle, but obviously we did it with Quevega and Joe Cullen would have won first time up (when winning the 2000 Champion Bumper).
"It's not something I'm worried about. I made the decision ages ago and the closer we've got, the happier I am that we didn't have a run."
The Closutton trainer is content with his Jeremy gelding but is sensibly wary of taking on defending champion Honeysuckle.
Henry de Bromhead's wonder mare took her unbeaten run to 14 when claiming her third Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown early this month and is odds-on to retain her crown.
"It's a big challenge for any horse to take on Honeysuckle," Mullins added.
"She races anywhere Rachael (Blackmore) puts her and there doesn't look to be much in the British Isles that can beat her, anyhow."
