LAST UPDATE | 16 Mar 2021
APPRECIATE IT LIVED up to his pre-race billing as he powered to victory in the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham before Shiskin cruised to success in the Arkle Challenge Trophy.
The 8-11 favourite, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, outclassed his seven rivals with a dominant display in the Festival curtain-raiser.
It was the start the Irish hoped for with Appreciate It coming home 24 lengths clear of the opposition to give Mullins a seventh success in the race.
APPRECIATE IT! ⚡️
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 16, 2021
What a performance to blitz the Supreme Novices' Hurdle!
Great start to the week for Willie Mullins! 🇮🇪#CheltenhamFestival #VMTVRacing pic.twitter.com/VPCluGLPAG
As expected, For Pleasure set the pace, but Appreciate It was always nicely in his slipstream. Townend made his move at the third-last, with the seven-year-old taking over from the penultimate obstacle.
From then on, Appreciate It pulled easily clear. His stablemate Blue Lord was his nearest pursuer when he came down at the last. That left Henry de Bromhead’s Ballyadam to claim second place, having made a mistake when hitting the second-last flight.
For Pleasure stuck to his task admirably to claim third place, two and a quarter lengths further away.
Shishkin justified his prohibitive odds when taking his winning streak to seven with an easy victory in the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy.
Winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on this card 12 months ago, Shishkin is now unbeaten in four races over fences as he gave trainer Nicky Henderson a seventh Arkle – a race the Seven Barrows trainer has taken with stars such as Sprinter Sacre and Altior.
WOW!
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 16, 2021
Shishkin dominates the Arkle! ⚡️
We're looking at a very special horse! #CheltenhamFestival #VMTVRacing pic.twitter.com/4OHloYTPGW
The 4-9 favourite was always travelling well in the hands of Nico de Boinville, as Allmankind and Captain Guinness made it a true-run race over the two miles.
Shishkin joined the two leaders at the third-last fence, setting sail for home and going on to score by 12 lengths.
Eldorado Allen picked up the pieces for second place close home, just ahead of Captain Guinness and Allmankind.
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