Il Etait Temps again underlined his class, annexing the William Hill Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival to add to his two-mile crown from Cheltenham — his eighth top-level victory.
Marine Nationale, who completed the same Cheltenham–Punchestown double 12 months ago, set the early tempo alongside Majborough as Paul Townend sat the Willie Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps mid-division in the five-runner contest. After an earlier mistake, Townend gave him time to regain his rhythm, then began to drive him forward approaching three from home. Il Etait Temps jumped into the lead two out and stretched clear, winning by five lengths as the veteran Energumene stayed on for a distant but creditable third; Energumene was immediately retired afterwards.
Mullins praised his winner, saying: “He is a hell of a horse and when you look at him, he doesn’t exactly scream a big chaser to you. He isn’t a big horse, but he is strong. He has huge reserves as, having made that mistake, I thought ‘wow’ as he came up beside Marine Nationale afterwards at the third-last. Marine Nationale is a fair horse to beat as he has a fair engine. To do what he did having fallen at Ascot (Clarence House Chase in January) and come back to win at Cheltenham was special, when Paul was in top-flight jockey mode. Majborough needs a longer trip, he might be better going slower over a longer trip and getting his act together.”
On Energumene — a two-time Punchestown–Cheltenham double achiever — Mullins added: “He retires nice and sound and ran a cracker. He gave us all such a great day out at Fairyhouse (at Easter) when he rolled back the years. It is too sunny (ground-wise) for him today, but he still put up a great battle. Winning his first Champion Chase in Cheltenham is a great memory. He had that speed and ability to jump and that marked him out.”
Trainer Barry Connell reflected on Marine Nationale’s run: “I’m delighted with the run, but he has not had the bounce of the ball this year. He jumps fantastically well with those cheekpieces on and was foot-perfect, but I’d say he is a little bit flat. Normally when he lands at the back of the second-last, speed is his forte and he looked like he ran a bit flat. All credit to the winner and they pulled a long way clear of the rest of them. I don’t think his hold-up affected him and while I knew Eachtotheirown’s work was excellent, Marine Nationale did a great piece of work at Fairyhouse three or four weeks ago but his work since has been OK. My own inclination is that he is a little flat, but take nothing away from the winner. There is no doubt he is a worthy winner on the day. This sets us up for a nice campaign next season and hopefully we’ll have a bit luck with him.”
Western Fold charges to Grade One victory for Elliott and Kennedy
Western Fold boosted Gordon Elliott’s trainers’ championship bid by powering home to win the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase. Kitzbuhel set a fast pace but faded, with July Flower taking over approaching the final fence. Western Fold jumped well to assume the lead, with Fleur In The Park and Nowwhatdoyouthink in close contention; Kitzbuhel was pulled up. The 18-1 Elliott raider proved strongest, Jack Kennedy driving him to a three-and-three-quarter-length success over Fleur In The Park and a €73,625 first prize.
Elliott said: “That is great and while I was nervous of the three miles, the last two times we tried him over it we rode him too handy. We rode him cold today and it was a good performance. Some horses come to the end of their season around now, but he has been busier than most and is one of the top five earners this season. We initially thought about going for the American Grand National, a race Zanahiyr won last year for us, and while we have tried Western Fold in open company in Ireland and it didn’t work out, the American race is a Grade One so is nothing to be sneezed at. I’m not saying we won’t go to America, but there is also the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran in October for him too and maybe we could pot hunt. The key to this horse is the ground and he is a stone better on it. He will have a little break now and while I’d love to go back for the Galway Plate, he might be too high in the weights after today.”
Eachtotheirown springs 16-1 surprise at Punchestown
Eachtotheirown led from the front to claim the Grade One PRL Champion Novice Hurdle on the opening day. Sean Flanagan sent the seven-year-old straight to the head of affairs and the 16-1 shot maintained that advantage to win by four and a quarter lengths from the staying-on Blake. Favourite El Cairos launched a bid two flights out but could not sustain it, eventually finishing fourth behind Blake and Le Labo.
Barry Connell explained the tactical switch after a disappointing Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: “He was rank the last day so the obvious thing to do was to leave him off in front today and he got a freebie. That is a good horse, he’s only had a handful of runs over hurdles but he is a chaser and we’ve had to wait for him as he is a big stamp of a horse. He was like a chaser jumping his hurdles today and has a fair engine.” Paddy Power quoted Eachtotheirown at 40-1 for the Arkle, and Connell confirmed plans: “The Arkle Chase is to the forefront of my mind for him next season as he is an out-and-out two-miler who doesn’t like being restrained. He has been a slow burner and they went no gallop in the Supreme the last day, and to be fair to Sean, he left him to coast home and he came here a fresh horse. Next season he will come back for a beginners’ chase before the ground gets bottomless and then go to Leopardstown twice before Cheltenham.”
Other results
Kalix Delabarriere captured the Listed Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle, quickening clear on the run-in to beat I’m Slippy by four lengths. Willie Mullins said it was a fantastic effort for Sean Cleary-Farrell and the owners, suggesting the big-raced Kalix Delabarriere could be stepped up in class or aimed at chasing next season. “He disappointed me two years ago when I thought he would make a really good bumper horse, but it has taken us another 18 months to get him right. He is by Galiway and he’s probably not what the breeders had in mind for him, but he is a lovely big type and has that kick at the end of his races.”
Martin Brassil’s Abbeyglen won the Goffs Defender Bumper impressively, taking the €59,000 winner’s purse with a five-and-a-half-length margin over Mullins’ Altesse Du LuY. Brassil said the plan is to give the big, leggy colt a break to mature before starting his jumping career. He also provided an update on stable star Fastorslow: “He is on the easy list still, but hopefully we’ll see him in the autumn/winter. He will come back into training around the usual time, around July or August.”