Il Etait Temps gives Willie Mullins his tenth victory in the Grade Two Clonmel Oil Chase
Il Etait Temps and Paul Townend win for trainer Willie Mullins. Pic: Healy Racing.
Willie Mullins enjoyed yet another profitable afternoon in Clonmel as Il Etait Temps gave the champion trainer a tenth victory in the Grade Two Clonmel Oil Chase, little more than half an hour after Spindleberry had done likewise in the listed T.A. Morris Memorial Irish EBF Mares’ Chase.
Il Etait Temps has the Tingle Creek in Sandown as a likely next target but starting off over two miles and five furlongs, he was ridden patiently by Paul Townend.
The pace was modest but the rider, confident in his mount’s ability, allowed the race develop in front of him. So well was his mount going he found himself in front earlier than planned, but it mattered not a jot to the result.
“He was very settled early and for a long way I was wondering was he too settled,” admitted Townend.
“I thought Mark (Walsh, Gentleman De Mee) would bring me a bit further, but two jumps put me on the back of Phillip (Enright, Senecia) and then he woke up.
“I was meant to delay it another three furlongs, but he took me to the lead before I wanted to. I would have been happy to follow all the way down the straight, but he woke up and settled it. He was ready to do it, but I think there’s plenty of improvement in him.”
Looking ahead, he added: “I presume the Tingle Creek is the plan. That was the plan when Willie left, but it could have changed.”
It wasn’t much more than a good exercise but the listed T.A. Morris Memorial Irish EBF Mares’ Chase provided a great starting point for a season that could lead anywhere for Mullins’ Spindleberry.
The seven-year-old made all the running at a modest pace initially, and readily kept her rivals at bay as she brought her record over fences to a perfect four. All the while she gave the impression she could be even better over three miles.
“We went slow and she was idle in front, and we dashed for three furlongs, but she’s very straightforward,” said Townend.
“It was a brilliant starting point, on ground that wasn’t bottomless to get to the end of her either. She was ready to have a go, but she’ll improve for it.
“She’s just a very good racehorse. You probably wouldn’t come back much in trip, and she’s an easy ride, which would give her every chance to get further if she wanted to.
“She has matured well. Her hurdling form was good but she had to drop back to two miles a few times, and she has taken to fences really well.”
The benefit of a first run was clearly not lost on the Gordon Elliott-trained Kovanis as he jumped and travelled more kindly this time than on debut and made all the running in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle. Jack Kennedy was in complete control throughout and put the race to bed between the final two flights.
The well-named Scope To Improve was sent off a 2-7 chance to make a winning start over timber in the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle, but he needed all of Darragh O’Keeffe’s brilliance to curb his enthusiasm and get the job done.
Henry de Bromhead’s horse raced keenly throughout but O’Keeffe hid him behind the leader as much as possible, got him in close to his hurdles just to keep a lid on him, and chose the right time to send him on.
Time might suggest it was a penalty kick for a horse of his ability, but there was unmistakable horsemanship on show here. Incidentally, the same could be said of the ride Phillip Enright gave the third, Big Dispute.
Jeriko De Baune showed signs of a return to form when third last time out at Sligo, and he duly built on that by taking the Clonmel Oil Service Station Handicap Hurdle under a fine, ground-saving ride by Niall Moore.
Said winning trainer Philip Fenton: “He was on the way back (to top form) and was brighter in himself today and travelled better. Normally he would be flat out and lose his place and then stay on again, but he’s done it well today.
“It was a great ride by Niall: he took the bull by the horns, rode very positively, and cut every corner. He has a handicap mark over fences, so we might look at that.”
After great rides in defeat aboard Big Dispute and Senecia, Phillip Enright deserved a winning turn, and it came aboard Kobalt St Georges in the Prior Park Service Station Clonmel Handicap.
Continuing the fine run of Robert Tyner and, indeed, owner Brendan Keogh, he nursed his mount around and picked off the leaders at will.
Under a determined drive by Harry Swan in the racingtv.om/freetrial bumper, the gritty Panjandrum ensured Gordon Elliott and owners Gigginstown House Stud topped and tailed the card.
