Apt shows gritty Approach to land Kinloch Brae

Apt Approach booked his ticket for the Cheltenham Festival following a workmanlike victory in the Grade 2 Matty Ryan Memorial Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles.

Well supported into 9/10 favourite in the two and a half miles feature, the nine-year-old gelding cut out most of the running under Ruby Walsh until headed after a mistake three out.

Last year's winner Follow The Plan tried to make the best of his way home from this point as Roberto Goldback was the first of the three principals to crack early in the straight.

Follow The Plan (11/2) and Apt Approach were in the air together at the last but the odds-on favourite got on top on the run-in eventually winning by four and a quarter lengths. Roberto Goldback was a further ten lengths adrift in third.

Winning trainer Willie Mullins said, “He must be a fair horse to win after making a mistake like that, and he's certainly improving.

“It's very hard to find a race for him, and he's too high now for handicaps, so he'll either go for the Ryanair Chase or the Gold Cup. Maybe the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park next month could be an option before Cheltenham.”

However bookmakers were not getting carried away by the performance, and Stan James make him 33/1 (from 50's) for the Ryanair and unchanged at 50/1 for the Gold Cup.