'I nearly had a heart attack at the last' - Fourth time plucky for champion Il Etait Temps

While Majborough was imploding, Il Etait Temps was travelling smoothly under a motionless Paul Townend and survived a late scare to take Wednesday's biggest prize

SEALED WITH A KISS: Groom Virginia Bascop with Il Etait Temps after the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, Prestbury Park, Cheltenham. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

When it comes to drama, the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase never fails to deliver and the 2026 renewal was no exception as the Willie Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps survived a final-fence scare to make it fourth time lucky at the Cheltenham Festival.

Fifth in both the 2022 Triumph Hurdle and the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Il Etait Temps finished third in the Arkle two years ago before missing last year’s Festival entirely.