Appreciate It puts in vintage display to win at Thurles

Appreciate It rolled back the years as he led home a Willie Mullins-trained one-two-three in the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles.

A brilliant winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham back in March of 2021, he had two lengthy absences after that and had not get his head in front since the second of his two chasing wins at Naas in January 2023.

That said, he had run some good races in defeat in top company and he defied his 11-year-old status here as he joined long-time leader Classic Getaway (Danny Mullins) and Blood Destiny (Paul Townend) running to the last, which he got away from well on the way to winning by six lengths from Classic Getaway in the hands of Sean O'Keeffe.

Assistant trainer Patrick Mullins said of the 6-1 winner: "He always had a very high level of form, but hasn't hit the back of the net often so that was brilliant for him. He split Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow in last year's John Durkan Chase, so has always had a high level of form.

"He probably missed his prime when he got injured after winning the Supreme, so it is great for him to win such a prestigious race as this today. I think he loved the ground and dropping back to a Grade Two helped as well.

"He is 11 now and maybe one for the Topham Chase - he doesn't quite stay three miles and that intermediate trip suits."

He added: "Classic Getaway loves this track and this ground and Paul Townend felt Blood Destiny blew up on his first run this season, he thought he'd improve a lot for the race."

Nara returned to winning ways in the other Grade Two on the card, the Carey Glass Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase.

Having won on her chasing bow at Gowran Park in November, the Henry de Bromhead-trained five-year-old was second at this level last