Il Etait Temps and Paul Townend lead over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins has already produced a number of exciting chasing prospects this season and Il Etait Temps can be added to the list after landing the odds in the Download The BetVictor App Beginners Chase at Thurles.
The French import won a Grade 1 novice hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival last season and was well-supported here on his chasing debut going off the 8/15 favourite. Aspire Tower set a decent pace in this 2m2f event and was headed approaching the last by Il Etait Temps, who asserted on the run-in to score by four and a half lengths. Ho My Lord kept on nicely to complete a 1-2 for Mullins with Aspire Tower a further four and a half lengths away in third.
Winning rider Paul Townend said, "He was very manageable which was a pleasant surprise and he has a lot more respect for fences than hurdles. He used to bring a hurdle with him but I thought he jumped brilliantly on the whole today.
"We went a good even gallop with a good horse leading and he showed a good turn of foot from the back of the last.
"He is more professional and has more options over fences because he is maturing. He had been a difficult ride over hurdles so your hands were tied but you can do what you want with him over fences.
"Hopefully he will be an Arkle type - we went a good strong pace, he has a good cruising speed and stays too."
Quotes by Tom Weekes
