Arkle hope Appreciate It kicks off Mullins treble in style with 21-length win

Sunday: Naas

Appreciate It remains unbeaten over fences but we learned little more than we knew already during his lap of honour in the 2m novice chase.

The runaway 2021 Supreme winner was left on his own when his closest market rival Top Bandit took a crashing fall at the fourth fence, one that sadly proved to be fatal and forced Jack Kennedy to be stood down with a suspected broken leg.

Appreciate It popped round in his own time and sauntered clear after the last for a 21-length win over Gaelic Arc at 1-9. Despite the fact the runner-up was rated 30lb lower than him over hurdles, Paddy Power still trimmed the winner into 11-2 (from 6) for the Sporting Life Arkle Chase, while BoyleSports went 4-1 (from 5).

Winning rider Paul Townend said: "It was the same story as the last day, you'd love to get a lead on him. He's idle in front and I was trying to teach him today, and win, without doing something silly.

"He showed me the last day that he's there when I need him. It's grand to get him out again and you'd have to be happy with everything he's doing. Every day is experience for him."

Appreciate It now 4-1 with some bookmakers for the ArkleCredit: Patrick McCann

Trainer Willie Mullins went on to complete a treble thanks to the victories of Champ Kiely in the feature Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle and Hunters Yarn in the 2m maiden hurdle.

Similar to Appreciate It earlier on the card, Hunters Yarn's success was likely some of the easiest few bob Townend will ever earn as the 1-4 favourite made every yard and coasted home for a 13-length win.

The jockey said: "He got in underneath one or two but when I wanted him and I was going on a stride up the straight, he was good and he got better at it as the race went on.

"If I had done that with him last time he'd probably have won as well. He improved from his first run but I wasn't happy with myself that day. He's another nice one for the owners, who are having a mighty time of it."

Telmesomethinggirl triumphs

Telmesomethinggirl isn't what you would call a natural over fences but it says a lot about her raw ability that she was still able to land the beginners' chase by six lengths.

There was no shortage of drama in the contest and Telmesomethinggirl was hesitant at a few fences, but she had enough in reserve to sweep by the front-running Instit, who was backed into favouritism but made plenty errors herself.

Winning rider Rachael Blackmore said: "She didn't jump with any kind of fluency at all, so we can definitely work on that. I thought turning in that I would definitely get there, but then I made a mess of the second-last.

"It's a long way home after the last here and I knew if I got over the fence, I'd have a chance. The way she jumped, she wasn't entitled to win. She has a lot of raw ability and hopefully can improve over fences."

Despite the erratic round of jumping, Paddy Power left Telmesomethinggirl unchanged at 14-1 for the mares' chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Telmesomethinggirl: winner on Sunday despite some jumping errorsCredit: Patrick McCann

Shakey comes good

Martin Troy, a key cog in the machine at Edward O'Grady's yard, was celebrating after the 2m handicap chase as Shakeytry ended a two-year drought under Phillip Enright.

Troy and Michael Lowry form the Glebeland Farm Partnership who own Shakeytry, and the 11-year-old rolled back the years with a decisive eight-length win.

Troy said: "I've been with Edward for 45 years and owned this horse since he was a foal. He's had leg trouble all his life and I've minded him like a baby. He was good today."

Nolan newcomer

The bumper went the way of the Paul Nolan-trained Cut The Rope at 5-1, with the trainer's brother James deflecting all the praise onto the gelding's previous trainer Richard O'Brien, who advised them to buy the four-year-old before he ran.

Nolan said: "All the credit must go to Richard for this. He's a great man to deal with."

Results, replays and analysis

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