Il Etait Temps and Danny Mullins yellow win the Grade 1 Barberstown castle Novice Steeplechase from Gaelic Warrior Pink © Photo Healy Racing
Il Etait Temps made it third time lucky on his latest meeting with stablemate Gaelic Warrior when proving too strong for the Arkle Chase winner in the Grade 1 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown.
Although himself a dual Grade 1 winner this season, the grey had come out second best on two previous meetings with Gaelic Warrior. The latter was sent off at 1-3f to add to his Cheltenham success for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.
For much of the race, Il Etait Temps was held up third of the quartet by Danny Mullins, as Gaelic Warrior got a lead from the third Mullins runner, Hercule De Seuil.
A mistake three out certainly put Il Etait Temps on the backfoot, as Gaelic Warrior closed on the leader heading for the home straight. Moving up to dispute at that penultimate fence, the favourite drifted right, in doing so coming together with his stablemate.
Meanwhile, Il Etait Temps was getting into gear on the outer, responding to Danny Mullins as he made it a three-way go on the run down to the final fence. With Hercule De Seuil the first to give way, Il Etait Temps found that bit extra to press ahead of Gaelic Warrior close home..
Danny Mullins said: "Fantastic performance. He is all heart. We missed the third last. Not the jump I wanted at that point.
"He came back on the bridle and I felt all the way down the straight that I just had Paul's measure.
"He has been so consistent all year. I think that was his best performance yet. He is there battling for you every time."
Willie Mullins added:“ He's an extraordinary horse, that's his third Grade 1 this year.
“He doesn't look like a big steeplechaser but he's got an engine and he jumps well. He's just maturing and learning all the time.
“He's getting a lot easier to ride. He has a hood and a tongue-tie and that's to keep the revs low on him. It's working and we'll keep them on him for the time being anyway.
“I'd imagine he'll stay at the two-mile division until we think that he's too slow, possibly on ground that he likes better.
“He never gives up. He's settling now and more mature and concentrating his energy at the second half of the race.
“He's a horse that I won't mind going up in trip with and he could easily slot into being a Ryanair horse.”
“I'm delighted for the winners but I was feeling sorry for Paul, he needs winners to get up to Jack Kennedy and it's just not happening at the minute. Hopefully he'll have a better at tomorrow.
“They all ran well, I think Gaelic Warrior probably didn't like the ground and it might just be drying up too much for him. He might be more of a winter horse.
“When he won here last year Paul thought he didn't move as well on it even though he won.
“I didn't think he was as flashy jumping. He's an extravagant jumper and he wasn't that at all today.”
On a record 35th Grade 1 of season, Mullins said:
“We've an incredible team of owners and staff and the horses come if you have both of those.”
Paddy Power went 20-1(from 50) Il Etait Temps for the Queen Mother. Gaelic Warrior is now 5-1(from 7-2), with Jonbon 3-1 market leader.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
