Il Etait Temps looked to have an obvious chance in the Start Christmas Here December 18th (Q.R.) and he duly landed prohibitive odds of 1/7 in the finale at Thurles for Patrick and Willie Mullins.

The absence of Nucky Johnson (temperature) made the task all the easier and on a good day for front-runners, Patrick Mullins elected to make all on the hot-pot.

The champion amateur hardly moved a muscle as the four-year-old, highly tried in Grade 1 company last season, cruised clear to score by ten lengths from Helisone Ideal De Ciergues was a neck further back in third.

Patrick Mullins said, "He was entitled to do that but I managed to get one beaten at 1/10 in one of these races before!

"He was very relaxed out in front and wasn't really concentrating when he made the mistake at the first but we were racing down to the last and winged that one. He is much more mature and relaxed this year and I think he'll jump better when he is amongst horses.

"Last year he looked like a solid Grade 2 horse so I'd like to think he could turn into a Supreme or Ballymore Novices Hurdle horse - that's the dream anyway. Usually juveniles can step out in distance and once he settles, I think he can go out in trip."

Quotes by Tom Weekes