Il Etait Temps once again proved why he belongs among the elite, adding a second top‑level triumph to his résumé by winning the William Hill Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival after having captured the two‑mile crown at Cheltenham. The French‑bred veteran, trained by the legendary Willie Mullins, showed the same composure and turn of foot that made him a favourite throughout the season. Marine Nationale, the horse that had completed the same double a year earlier, was also in the mix, accompanied by Majborough. Jockey Paul Townend, who had been aboard Il Etait Temps for the Cheltenham victory, chose to hold the Mullins‑trained star back in the middle of the five‑horse field, allowing him to settle after an early mistake.
As the race entered the final three furlongs, Townend eased the favourite down, and the horse found his rhythm, pulling ahead to take the lead two fences from the finish. From there Il Etait Temps opened up, drawing away from Marine Nationale, whose campaign had been disrupted by a series of setbacks. The Frenchman crossed the line five lengths clear, while the veteran Energumene, who was pulled up shortly after, managed a distant but respectable third before being retired on the spot.
Mullins praised his champion, noting that despite his modest size the horse possesses a surprising amount of strength and depth of stamina. "He may not look like a typical big chaser, but he is incredibly strong and has huge reserves of energy," Mullins said.
He recalled the mistake earlier in the race, adding, "When he recovered and surged past Marine Nationale at the third last, I thought, wow, that horse still has a lot left in him." Mullins also reflected on Il Etait Temps' remarkable comeback after a fall at the Clarence House Chase at Ascot in January. "To drop back, regain confidence and then win at Cheltenham with Paul in top‑flight jockey mode was special," he said. He offered a brief assessment of Majborough, suggesting the horse might benefit from a longer distance where a slower pace could allow him to settle and deliver his best performance.
Turning to the retiring Energumene, Mullins highlighted the 12‑year‑old's impressive record, which includes two Punchestown‑Cheltenham doubles. "He retires sound and happy after a cracker of a race. He gave us a fantastic day at Fairyhouse at Easter, rolling back the years. The ground was a bit too firm for him today, but he still put up a great battle," the trainer explained.
"Winning his first Champion Chase at Cheltenham is a memory we’ll cherish. He had the speed and the jumping ability that set him apart." Marine Nationale's trainer, Barry Connell, expressed satisfaction with his horse's effort despite a less than ideal run.
"He jumps beautifully with his cheekpieces on and was foot‑perfect, but he seemed a little flat today. Normally he accelerates strongly at the back of the second last, but this time he looked a touch tired," Connell said. He praised the winner, noting that the race had been won decisively, and looked ahead to next season, hoping a bit of luck would see Marine Nationale return to top form.
In the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase, Western Fold delivered a crucial win for Gordon Elliott’s bid for the trainers’ championship. After a fast start by the Brown Advisory‑backed Kitzbuhel, the latter faded in the closing stages. Western Fold, who had been travelling well throughout the race, surged ahead to claim a three‑and‑three‑quarter length victory over Fleur In The Park, ridden by Andrew Slattery.
Jack Kennedy, aboard the 18‑1 outsider, guided the horse expertly to the finish, earning a €73,625 prize. Elliott was delighted with the performance, acknowledging that the three‑mile distance had previously been a concern. "We rode him a bit too handy last time, but today we kept him cold and it paid off. He’s been busy all season and is now among the top five earners," he said.
He hinted at future plans, including a possible run in the American Grand National – a Grade One race won by his stablemate Zanahiyr the previous year – as well as a potential appearance in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran in October. "The key for this horse is the ground; he loves it and performs best on it," Elliott added, noting that a short break might be in order before targeting the Galway Plate, though weight considerations could be a factor.
On the opening day of the Punchestown Festival, Eachtotheirown secured a decisive win in the Grade One PRL Champion Novice Hurdle. Sean Flanagan sent the seven‑year‑old straight to the front, and the 16‑1 shot never looked back, finishing four and a quarter lengths ahead of the staying‑on Blake. Favourite El Cairos challenged two fences out but could not sustain the pace, eventually finishing fourth behind the Gordon Elliott‑trained runner.
Connell, who trained Eachtotheirown, explained that the horse had only one prior win at the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, prompting a tactical shift. "He was ranked the last day, so we left him off the pace today and he got a free run.
He’s a big‑boned horse with a solid engine and is already showing the makings of a top chaser," Connell said. Looking ahead, Connell confirmed that the Arkle Chase is a prime target for Eachtotheirown next season. "He’s a true two‑miler who doesn’t like being restrained.
We’ll give him a beginners’ chase early on, then aim for Leopardstown twice before heading to Cheltenham," he outlined. Paddy Power had offered the horse 40‑1 odds for the Arkle, reflecting the confidence many have in his potential. In the Listed Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle, Kalix Delabarriere displayed a powerful finishing burst to win by four lengths over I'm Slippy. The Willie Mullins‑trained runner, ridden by Sean Cleary‑Farrell, had been placed second at Fairyhouse earlier in the festival, and his trainer praised the horse’s progress.
"It was fantastic for Sean and the owners to win a big handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse and then repeat at Punchestown. We may have to step him up in class, but we’ll likely keep him in hurdles for now before moving him to chasing next season," Mullins said.
He noted that Kalix Delabarriere had taken longer to develop than expected, but his size and finishing kick now make him a standout. Martin Brassil’s Abbeyglen impressed in the Goffs Defender Bumper, winning by five and a half lengths over Mullins’ Altesse Du LuY and taking home the €59,000 prize. Brassil described the performance as “lovely,” emphasizing the horse’s size and leggy build. He plans to give Abbeyglen a break to allow him to mature before tackling the rigors of jumping in the future.
Brassil also provided an update on his staying chaser Fastorslow, confirming that the horse remains on the “easy list” and is expected to return to training in the usual July‑August window, targeting autumn and winter campaigns. Overall, Punchestown delivered a weekend of thrilling victories, strategic masterstrokes, and promising glimpses of future stars, reinforcing its reputation as a key festival in the Irish racing calendar.