Twelve months ago it was Envoi Allen who landed the Grade 2 Goffs Future Stars Bumper, and the valuable €100,000 prize was retained by another pointing graduate in Appreciate It.
Interestingly, the Jeremy gelding had come against Envoi Allen on his debut, when finishing third in a Ballinaboola four-year-old maiden in February 2018, ensuring that race was once again responsible for a winner on the Dublin Racing Festival card, as the well-supported favourite impressively took apart what had seemed a competitive field on paper.
Willie Mullins’ charge was never too far from the pace, and once brought to the front by Patrick Mullins inside the final two furlongs, there was only ever going to be one winner, as he eased clear of the previous course and distance winner Risk Factor, to prevail by seven and a half lengths, with the same distance back to the third Lieutenant Colonal.
Both the first and third horses have been campaigned in four-year-old maidens by Tipperary handler Pat Doyle.
“It was very impressive. The way he put away a field of what looked the best bumper horses in Ireland did surprise me but Patrick had way more confidence in him than I had,” said the winning trainer.
“He was keen on him all the time. I thought it was a very tough race.
“I wasn't as worried about the trip as a lot of people were. It so happened it was a two-and-a-half mile bumper at Christmas that he ran in. He didn't need the trip then, he's fast enough.
“He looked like a Cheltenham type for me anyway. It was a very good performance and I'm very pleased.”
Following the success, Appreciate It was cut into 3/1 for the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, a race that he now heads the market for.
