Il Etait Temps once again proved why he belongs among the elite, adding a second top‑level triumph to his résumé by capturing the William Hill Champion Chase at Punchestown after already securing the two‑mile crown at Cheltenham. This remarkable achievement marks his eighth Grade One win, underscoring the consistency and class that have defined his career.
The race featured a strong field that included Marine Nationale, the very horse that had completed the same double a year earlier, as well as the well‑handled Majborough. Jockey Paul Townend, who has partnered the Willie Mullins‑trained Il Etait Temps on numerous occasions, opted to hold the horse back in the early stages, allowing the five‑runner field to settle before making his move.
Townend gave Il Etait Temps a clear run to find his rhythm after an early mistake, and as they approached the final three furlongs, the favourite (8‑11) began to accelerate, pulling ahead of the pack. By the last fence, he was already two lengths clear and continued to stretch his lead, ultimately winning by five lengths over Marine Nationale, whose campaign has been disrupted by a series of setbacks. The veteran Energumene, who was pulled up after a valiant effort, finished a distant but respectable third before being retired on the spot. Willie Mullins praised his champion after the race: "He is a fantastic horse.
He doesn’t look like a typical big chaser – he’s compact, but incredibly strong. He has huge reserves of stamina. When he made that mistake early on, I thought, ‘wow,’ because he recovered instantly and was alongside Marine Nationale at the third‑last.
Marine Nationale is a solid horse with a good engine, so beating him after a fall at Ascot’s Clarence House Chase in January and then winning at Cheltenham is special. Paul rode him in top‑flight mode and got the best out of him." Mullins also commented on Majborough, suggesting the horse might benefit from a longer distance: "Majborough may need a longer trip; perhaps a slower pace over a greater distance will allow him to settle and deliver his best performance." When asked about the retirement of the 12‑year‑old Energumene, who has also completed the Punchestown‑Cheltenham double twice, Mullins reflected: "He retires sound and happy after a brilliant race. He gave us a wonderful day at Fairyhouse at Easter, reminding everyone of his youthful vigor.
The ground was a bit too firm for him today, but he still fought hard. Winning his first Champion Chase at Cheltenham is a memory we’ll always cherish – his speed and jumping ability set him apart." Marine Nationale’s trainer, Barry Connell, offered his perspective on the runner‑up: "I’m delighted with his performance, but he hasn’t had his best bounce this year. He jumps beautifully with his cheekpieces on and was technically perfect, yet he seemed a little flat in the finish.
Usually, when he lands at the back of the second‑last, his speed shines, but today he appeared to run a bit flat. All credit goes to the winner; they pulled away decisively.
I don’t think his hold‑up affected him, and while Eachtotheirown’s work was excellent earlier, Marine Nationale’s recent training has been merely adequate. He’s a worthy winner on the day and sets us up nicely for next season, where we hope a bit of luck will follow him." The action at Punchestown continued with Western Fold delivering a crucial boost to Gordon Elliott’s bid for the trainers’ championship. In the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase, Western Fold, an 18‑to‑1 outsider, surged ahead in the final stages to claim a €73,625 prize, beating Fleur In The Park by three and three‑quarter lengths.
The race had started with Kitzbuhel, the Brown Advisory hero, leading comfortably but fading as the finish approached, allowing July Flower to take over briefly before Western Fold asserted dominance. Elliott praised the performance: "I was nervous about the three‑mile distance, as we’ve previously ridden him a bit too easy.
Today we rode him cold, and it paid off. Some horses are ending their seasons now, but Western Fold has been busy and is among the top five earners this year. We considered the American Grand National, a Grade One race Zanahiyr won for us last year, but we also have the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran in October and possibly a pot‑hunt.
The key for him is the ground; he loves softer going. He’ll have a short break, and while I’d love to run him in the Galway Plate, the weight may be too high after today’s effort." On the opening day of the festival, Eachtotheirown delivered a dominant performance in the Grade One PRL Champion Novice Hurdle. Starting at 16‑1, the seven‑year‑old surged to the front under Sean Flanagan and never looked back, winning by four and a quarter lengths from Blake. Favourite El Cairos attempted a challenge two flights out but could not sustain the pace, eventually finishing fourth.
Eachtotheirown’s victory was notable because he had only one prior win in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, prompting trainer Barry Connell to adjust his tactics. Connell explained: "He was a bit rank the previous day, so we left him off the pace today, which gave him a free run. He’s still a young horse with limited hurdle experience, but he’s built like a chaser and has a good engine.
He jumped his hurdles like a chaser and showed plenty of stamina." Paddy Power offered him 40‑1 odds for the upcoming Arkle, and Connell confirmed the race is a prime target for next season: "The Arkle Chase is at the top of my list for him. He’s a pure two‑miler who dislikes being restrained. He’s a slow burner, and after a fresh run at Punchestown, he’ll likely start the next season in a beginners’ chase before moving up to Leopardstown and then Cheltenham." In the Listed Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle, Kalix Delabarriere, trained by Willie Mullins, displayed a powerful finishing run, pulling four lengths clear of I'm Slippy to secure the win.
Mullins praised the horse’s development: "It’s fantastic for Sean Cleary‑Farrell and the owners to win a big handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse and then repeat at Punchestown. We may step him up in class soon, but for now we’ll give him a break and aim for chasing next season. He disappointed me two years ago when I thought he’d make a good bumper, but after 18 months of work he’s found his stride.
He’s a big, strong type with a good turn of foot at the end." Meanwhile, Martin Brassil’s Abbeyglen captured the Goffs Defender Bumper, winning by five and a half lengths over Mullins’ Altesse Du LuY and taking the €59,000 prize. Brassil expressed his satisfaction: "It was wonderful to see him perform today; everything clicked.
He’s a big, leggy horse and showed the potential we hoped for. He’ll get a break now to mature before tackling jumps.
He’s an exciting prospect with a lovely pedigree." Brassil also gave an update on his stable star Fastorslow, a staying chaser: "He’s still on the easy list, but we expect to see him return in the autumn or winter. He’ll likely resume training around July or August, as usual." Overall, the Punchestown Festival delivered a blend of thrilling victories, strategic trainer insights, and promising glimpses of future campaigns, reinforcing its reputation as a pivotal meeting in the Irish racing calendar.