Repeat dose for Appreciate It in Horse & Jockey Appreciate It quickened away in style to run out an easy winner of the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles, repeating last year's victory and giving Paul Townend and Willie Mullins a treble on the day. The 12-year-old went to post an even-money shot in the two-mile-six contest and tracked front-runner Monbeg Park before jumping into the lead five from home. Easy victory for Townend and Mullins A fine leap three from home gave him a few lengths advantage and he sprinted away from stablemate James du Berlais running down to the last fence to record a 12-length win. "He has been such a good servant all his life and he shows huge enthusiasm for racing. He is a joy to ride, is push-button stuff and it is a great day to get back on him,” said Townend. Townend hails "big solid armchair" Appreciate It "It is only a situation of sit on his back and try not to fall off him. He is like a big solid armchair and is a big unit of a horse. He is a gent, you could put anybody up on him and I really enjoyed riding and winning on him today. "He still shows good enthusiasm for it and that is a credit to Mark (Rapple) and the gang at home, who keep him sweet. Mark looks after him like he was a child of his." The winner had chased home subsequent Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury on his return to action here in November. (Quotes by Tom Weekes)
