Cheltenham Festival: Appreciate It's absence not a worry for Willie Mullins

Willie Mullins is confident Appreciate It is firing on all cylinders ahead of what will be his first start in a year in next month's Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The eight-year-old has not been seen in competitive action since his scintillating 24-length success over the same course and distance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the 2021 Festival.

Appreciate It was due to pursue a career over fences this term, but a mid-season injury prompted a change of of tack and he will instead bid to provide Mullins with a fifth Champion Hurdle success.

"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."

While the Closutton handler could not be happier with how Appreciate It’s preparation is gone, he is fully aware of the task he faces in taking on defending champion Honeysuckle.

Henry de Bromhead’s superstar mare stretched her unbeaten record to 14 when claiming her third Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on her latest outing and will be a hot favourite to deliver once more in the Cotswolds.

"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