Il Etait Temps Punchtown-Cheltenham double | Racing News

Il Était Temps once again showed his class

as he won at the Punchestown Festival for the eighth time at the highest level, adding the William Hill Champion Chase from Cheltenham to his two-mile crown.

Marine Nationale – who completed the same double 12 months ago – joined Majborough in the field, with Paul Townend delighted to leave the Willie Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps among the five runners.

Townend gave Il Etait Temps time to find his stride again after an early mistake and began to drop into the saddle aboard the 8-11 favourite, two jumps from the front as he approached three from home.

He then went on to drop the Marine National – whose campaign had been disrupted – as a result, the veteran Energumene won by five lengths after continuing to a distant but creditable third, after which he was promptly retired.

Mullins said of his winner: “He’s a hell of a horse and when you look at him, he doesn’t scream ‘big chaser’ to you at all. He’s not a large horse, but he’s strong.

“He’s got a lot of reserves because after that mistake, I thought, ‘Wow,’ when he came in third last with Marine National. Marine National is a good horse with a good engine to beat.

“To do what he did after falling at Ascot (the Clarence House Chase in January) and coming back to win at Cheltenham was special, when Paul was in top-flight jockey mode.

“Majboro needs a long walk; maybe he gets his act together by walking slowly on a long trip.”

On the retirement of 12-year-old Energumene, who did the Punchestown-Cheltenham double twice in his illustrious career, he added: “He retired nice and well and ran a cracker. He gave us all such a good day at Fairy House (at Easter) when he made us feel young again.

It’s very sunny (ground-wise) for him today, but he still fought hard. Winning his first Champion Chase at Cheltenham is a cherished memory. He had the speed and ability to jump and he took it out.”

Meanwhile, Marine National trainer Barry Connell said, “I’m happy with the run, but he hasn’t got the bounce on the ball this year. He jumps brilliantly with those cheek pieces and the fit was perfect, but I’d say he’s a bit flat.”

“Usually when he gets off the back of the second-last, pace is his speciality, and he looked like he ran a little bit flat. All credit to the winner, who was well ahead of the rest.

I don’t think his hold-up affected him. While I knew Eachtotheirown (winner of the Grade One Champion Novice Hurdle earlier in the day) did a great job, Marine National also performed well at Fairyhouse three or four weeks ago, but he’s been fine since then.

“My inclination is that he’s a bit flat, but that doesn’t take anything away from the winner. There’s no doubt he’s a worthy winner on the day.

“It sets us up for a good campaign next season and hopefully we’ll have a bit of luck with it.”

Western Fold claimed the Grade One victory for Elliott and Kennedy

Western Fold boosted Gordon Elliott’s Trainers’ Championship bid as he topped the Dolly Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown.

Brown Advisory hero Kitzbuhel bowled along the front in the Grade One affair but faded at the business end as July Flower handled him heading for the final fence.

Western Fold jumped much better to take the lead, with Floor in the Park and Nowwhatdoyouthink also in the mix as the quartet battled it out and Kitzbuhel was pulled up.

But in the end it was the 18-1 elite runner who was too strong in the hands of Jack Kennedy, who took the €73,625 first prize by three and three-quarter lengths from Andrew Slattery’s Flavour in the Park.

Elliott said: “It’s great and while I was nervous at three miles, the last two times we’ve tried him on him we’ve ridden him a very easy ride. Today we cooled him down and it was a good performance. Some horses come to the end of their season, but he’s been busier than ever and has been one of the top earners this season.

“We initially thought about going for the American Grand National, a race Zanahir won for us last year, and while we tried Western Fold in open company in Ireland and it didn’t work out, the American race is a grade one so nothing to sneeze at.

“I’m not saying we won’t go to America, but for that there’s also the PWC Champion Chase at Goran in October and we might be in the hunt. The key with this horse is the ground and he’s a better rock on it.”

He added: “He’ll get a bit of a break now and while I’d love to go back for the Galway Plate, he might be too heavy after today.”

Everyone’s surprise at Punchestown is 16-1.

Each to their own prepared every yard to win the Grade One PRL Champion Novice Hurdle on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival.

Sean Flanagan immediately sent the seven-year-old to the head of the field and the 16-1 shot never saw another rival as he raced home four and a quarter lengths from Sting on Black.

The favourite, El Kairos, was the first to mount a challenge outside two flights but he could not keep pace with the Barry Connell prisoner and was soon treading water, as Eachtotheirown saw Black and Lee Lebow with the Gordon Elliott-trained El Kairos only fourth.

The winner was beaten just one home in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, a race which left Connell to change strategy.

He explained, “He was on the range the last day so the obvious thing was to leave him in front today and he got a freebie.” He’s a good horse; he’s only had a handful of runs over hurdles but he’s a chaser and we had to wait for him because he’s a big stamp of a horse.

“He was like a chaser jumping his hurdles today and he has a clean engine.”

Paddy Power quoted Octotheraon at 40-1 for Arkle, and Connell confirmed, “The Arkle Chase is top of my mind for him next season because he’s an out-and-out two-miler who doesn’t like to be held back. He’s been a slow burner and he hasn’t gone galloping, and he came to stay with him in the Supreme Court on the last day, and he came out here a fresh horse.”

“Next season he will be back to chase starters before the ground goes down and then go to Leopardstown twice before Cheltenham.”

Calix Delabriere made a clear charge on the run for home to take the Listed Killashy Hotel Handicap Hurdle.

I’m Slippy jumped the final flight with a slim lead over Kalix Delabarriere and Messerschmitt, but the Willie Mullins-trained Kalix Delabarriere (10-1) quickly put the race to bed, finishing four lengths clear of I’m Slippy.

Mullins said, “It was great for San Cleary-Farrell and owners to win a big hurdle at the Fairyhouse Festival and come back in style at Punchestown. We might have to take it up in class, although I think we’ll put it away now and come back chasing next season.

“He disappointed me two years ago when I thought he’d make a really good bumper horse, but it’s taken us another 18 months to get him right. He’s from Galway and he’s probably not what the breeders had in mind, but he’s a lovely big type and he’s had that kick at the end of his race.”

Martin Brassell’s Abiglin (11-2) was an impressive winner of the Goofs Defender Bumper, finishing five-and-a-half lengths clear of Mullins’ Altesse Du LuY to claim the €59,000 winner’s purse.

Brussel said, “It was great to get him here today and everything went well. We were keeping him in mind because he is a big, leggy horse and he has done what we were hoping for. He shows a bit at home and we were happy to give him a chance.

“He’ll get a break now because we want to let him mature a bit so he can handle the rigours of jumping.

Meanwhile, Brassel had an update on stable star Fasturslow, adding about the staying chaser: “He’s still on the easy list, but hopefully we’ll see him in the autumn/winter.” He’ll be back in training normally, around July or August.”