Il Etait Temps Achieves Remarkable Victory at Sandown, Signifying a Milestone in His Career.
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The facts
Il Etait Temps won the prestigious Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, marking his second Grade 1 title. The race took place on a Saturday, showcasing the horse’s impressive abilities.
Details of the victory
This seven-year-old gelding, trained by Willie Mullins, was expertly ridden by jockey Paul Townend.
Il Etait Temps had previously triumphed at Sandown in the Celebration Chase, a victory that aided Mullins in securing his second British Jump trainers’ championship last April.
What’s next
With this recent win, expectations are high for Il Etait Temps in upcoming events.
The racing community will be closely monitoring his performance in future competitions.
Race overview
The race featured Il Etait Temps, who demonstrated remarkable stamina and determination. He seized control early, surpassing the J.P. McManus-owned Jonbon, the 3/1 favorite, just three jumps from the finish line.
With a commanding lead, the son of Jukebox Jury surged ahead, securing a comfortable nine-length victory. This win marks trainer Willie Mullins’s second triumph in this prestigious event, following Un De Sceaux‘s victory in 2016. Jonbon, a two-time champion, finished in second place.
Competition insights
In third place was L’Eau du Sud, trained by Dan and Harry Skelton, finishing nine lengths behind the leader. Despite this result, jockey Townend praised Il Etait Temps, stating, “He may be small, but he answered every challenge I posed. It’s almost amusing how I hesitated to back him earlier in his career. He is finally demonstrating the potential he exhibited as a young horse, and he navigated the race effortlessly. His relaxed demeanor allows us to ride him confidently now, a stark contrast to earlier days when I feared asking for a jump would ignite his energy and make him difficult to manage.”
Post-race reflections
After the race, Nicky Henderson, trainer of runner-up Jonbon, shared insights on the performance. He stated, “Last year, when we faced Il Etait Temps, it was at the tail end of a long season. Today’s race indicates that he is indeed quicker than us over two miles. We are considering the possibility of extending his distance for future races, but we’ll wait for further assessments before making any decisions. Everything remains on the table.”
Future plans
Dan Skelton, trainer of the third-placed L’Eau du Sud, commented, “Although I don’t believe we performed at our peak today, I’m satisfied with the outcome. Our next focus will be preparing him for the Champion Chase. We aim to ensure he is in top form, akin to his performance in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham.”
The day ended with a significant win for Il Etait Temps, highlighting his development and potential as a leading contender in the racing industry. His team remains focused on pursuing new challenges and goals in the sport.
