Apt Approach

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Workmanlike win for Mullins' Apt Approach


The Willie Mullins-trained Apt Approach warmed up for a likely crack at the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March with a gutsy success at Thurles, getting the better of last year's winner Follow The Plan by four-and-a-half-lengths to land the Grade 2 Matty Ryan Memorial Kinloch Brae Chase on January 19, writes Elliot Slater.

Sent off the 9/10 favourite for the two-and-a-half-mile contest run on officially soft ground, Apt Approach made most of the running under Ruby Walsh before Follow The Plan loomed up as a significant danger going to the third from home. Walsh asked his mount for more and the nine-year-old delivered, knuckling down well from the second last to gradually forge clear for a pleasing if unspectacular success. Anyone looking at the best Cheltenham race odds online will have been pleased by his efforts.

Mullins declared himself very satisfied with the performance of his winner who was completing a seasonal hattrick having scored at Thurles in November over three miles before following up at Tramore over a similar distance to his latest Thurles success. All systems are now 'go' for the gelded son of Bob Back to journey across the Irish Sea to Cheltenham in March for what will be only his second race outside of Ireland.

His first run on foreign soul came at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival when Apr Approach finished sixth of 23 to Cousin Vinny having been sent of a well supported 4/1 shot, and Mullins expects his charge to be aimed at the Ryanair Chase even though he has left him in at the latest declaration stage for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, a race for which his charge is a rank outsider at odds of up to 100/1. Bookmakers rate his chances rather better for the Ryanair Chase over what appears to be his optimum trip though, Apt Approach generally being on offer at 33/1, although 40/1 is available in places.

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