Il Etait Temps once again proved why he is regarded as a top‑class chaser when he added the William Hill Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival to his two‑mile triumph at Cheltenham, completing an impressive double for the eighth time in his career. The French‑bred veteran, trained by the legendary Willie Mullins, showed the same blend of speed, stamina and jumping accuracy that has made him a favourite among racing fans. Marine Nationale, the horse that achieved the same double a year earlier, set the early pace alongside Majborough.
Paul Townend, who rode Il Etait Temps, chose to settle the Mullins‑trained runner in the middle of the five‑horse field rather than contest the lead straight away. This tactical decision allowed the Champion Chase winner to settle into a comfortable rhythm after a brief mistake early on. As the race entered the final three furlongs, Townend eased Il Etait Temps down the inside, letting him find his stride again.
The 8‑11 favourite responded by accelerating, moving up to challenge the leaders as they approached the last turn. He surged ahead, pulling clear of Marine Nationale, a horse whose campaign has been disrupted by a series of setbacks.
Il Etait Temps finished five lengths ahead, while the seasoned veteran Energumene, who was pulled up shortly after crossing the line, managed a respectable third place before being retired on the spot. Mullins praised his winner, noting that the horse may not look imposing but possesses a great deal of strength and hidden reserves. "He is a hell of a horse and when you look at him, he doesn't exactly scream a big chaser to you.
He isn't a big horse, but he is strong," Mullins said. He added that Il Etait Temps demonstrated remarkable resilience after a mistake at Ascot's Clarence House Chase in January, bouncing back to win at Cheltenham when Paul Townend was at his absolute best. Regarding Majborough, Mullins suggested that the horse might benefit from a longer distance, perhaps a slower trip over a more extended course, to allow him to settle into a rhythm and deliver his best performance. The 12‑year‑old Energumene, who also completed the Punchestown‑Cheltenham double twice in his illustrious career, was retired after the race.
Mullins reflected on his final outing: "He retires nice and sound and ran a cracker. He gave us all such a great day out at Fairyhouse (at Easter) when he rolled back the years. It is too sunny (ground‑wise) for him today, but he still put up a great battle.
Winning his first Champion Chase in Cheltenham is a great memory. He had that speed and ability to jump and that marked him out." Marine Nationale's trainer Barry Connell was pleased with his horse's performance despite feeling the animal was a little flat on the day. "I'm delighted with the run, but he has not had the bounce of the ball this year. He jumps fantastically well with those cheekpieces on and was foot‑perfect, but I'd say he is a little bit flat," Connell explained.
He noted that Marine Nationale's work at Fairyhouse a few weeks earlier had been strong, but recent training sessions had been only average. Nonetheless, Connell praised the winner and expressed optimism for a solid campaign next season. In another highlight of the festival, Western Fold gave Gordon Elliott a crucial boost in his bid for the trainers' championship by winning the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase. After an early lead by Kitzbuhel, who faded near the finish, Western Fold, ridden by Jack Kennedy, surged ahead and held on to win by three and three‑quarter lengths, securing a €73,625 prize.
Elliott commented on the horse's development, saying, "We rode him cold today and it was a good performance. Some horses come to the end of their season around now, but he has been busier than most and is one of the top five earners this season." Elliott also discussed future plans, mentioning the possibility of targeting the American Grand National, a race Zanahiyr won for him last year, as well as the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran in October. He emphasized that Western Fold thrives on softer ground and would likely need a break before tackling heavier weight assignments such as the Galway Plate. The opening day of the Punchestown Festival saw Eachtotheirown dominate the Grade One PRL Champion Novice Hurdle.
Starting at 16‑1, the seven‑year‑old took the lead early and never looked back, winning by four and a quarter lengths. Trainer Barry Connell explained that the horse had been left out of the previous day's Supreme Novices' Hurdle to preserve his freshness, describing him as a "big stamp of a horse" with a strong engine and a natural aptitude for chasing. Connell also hinted at future targets, naming the Arkle Chase as a primary goal for the next season, given the horse's preference for two‑mile trips and his ability to stay clear of restraint. He expects the horse to run in a beginners' chase before stepping up to Leopardstown and eventually Cheltenham.
In the Listed Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle, Kalix Delabarriere, trained by Willie Mullins, produced a decisive finish, pulling away from I'm Slippy and Messerschmitt to win by four lengths. Mullins praised the horse's development, noting that it took 18 months to get the colt right after an initial disappointment when he was considered for a bumper career.
He highlighted the colt's powerful finish and expressed confidence that the horse will be aimed at chasing next season. Elsewhere, Martin Brassil's Abbeyglen captured the Goffs Defender Bumper, beating Mullins' Altesse Du LuY by five and a half lengths.
Brassil lauded the young horse's performance, describing him as a "big, leggy" runner with a promising pedigree. He plans to give Abbeyglen a break to allow him to mature before tackling the rigors of jumping in future campaigns. Brassil also provided an update on stable star Fastorslow, confirming that the staying chaser remains on the "easy list" and is expected to return to training in the usual summer window, with hopes of seeing him back in competition during the autumn and winter months. Overall, the Punchestown Festival delivered a blend of thrilling victories, strategic insights from top trainers, and promising glimpses of future stars that will shape the National Hunt calendar in the months ahead.