Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1)

DANNY Mullins rode three Grade 1 winners at the Dublin Racing Festival last year and remarkably, it took him just three races to equal that tally at this year’s festival, completing the set on Il Etait Temps in the Goffs Irish Arkle.

Teaming up with his uncle Willie again, Il Etait Temps (6/1) was able to take advantage of a disappointing performance from the odds-on favourite Marine Nationale, beaten for the first time in his career.

The winner, owned by the Hollywood Syndicate and Barnane Stud, sat in behind Found A Fifty and Facile Vega, who were first and second throughout just as had been here at Christmas. Marine Nationale was in fourth for Michael O’Sullivan, who looked content enough coming into the straight but was a beaten docket on the way to the last.

That left Found A Fifty in front, but Il Etait Temps, with at least a length to find after the last, showed real guts to reel him in, getting up to win by a neck with Facile Vega back in third.

“On known form, I knew I’d be in the mix,” said Danny. “He’s definitely improving, I don’t know if the others bombed out, I think they might have run their races, which is good for us. I have to try and keep Paul off him now!

“I wanted to be handy, follow the fancied ones, the further we went down the back, the better he was jumping and the more he was coming into my hands. Off the home turn I knew I was in a position to strike if good enough. We were all battling to the last, I got the jump and I didn’t get Jack until late but I was always confident I would.

“His jumping down the back today was fantastic, whereas over hurdles, the odd time he’d take a chance and cost himself a length or two, but when you’re showing fences respect and making ground, it keeps you in the race and leaves petrol in the tank for later.”

The winner was cut to prices between 7/2 and 6/1 for the Arkle at Cheltenham but his trainer was inclined to speak more about Facile Vega in the aftermath of this contest and with regard to Cheltenham.

“Danny is just riding out of his skin,” said Willie Mullins. “I was hoping Facile Vega would win but Il Etait Temps is a Grade 1 winner around this track and when you pair that with a jockey who is riding so well, things happen for him.

“I was happy with Facile Vega, I could see a good bit of improvement from Christmas and he’ll probably stay on the same road now towards the Arkle.

“The winner is a serious contender but I’m not sure of his form around Cheltenham, I know what Facile Vega can do around Cheltenham so it depends, you have to look at the winner alright but Facile made a mistake at the last and didn’t jump one or two down the back as well as he had schooled during the week. I think he is coming now and there is more to come.

“Il Etait Temps is not a big chasing type, he looks more like a hurdler but he used to gallop through his hurdles but he has way more respect for fences and that is what has brought out his ability. He can show way more now at the end of a race.”