Danny Mullins has delivered on countless occasions for his Uncle Willie and he did it again as Il Etait Temps shocked the stable hotpot Gaelic Warrior to score in the Grade 1 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown on Thursday.
Il Etait Temps upstages stable companion Gaelic Warrior to land a second G1 of the season with Barberstown Castle Novice Chase victory at @punchestownrace
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 2, 2024
That is Willie Mullins' 34th G1 victory this season, a new record ?? pic.twitter.com/yFgF7ugSAd
Mullins Jnr has been in stellar form all season and most recently booted home the winners of the Scottish National and Bet365 Gold Cup to help the Closutton maestro secure his British jumps trainers’ title.
This time around, he was piloting a record-breaking 35th Grade 1 winner of the season for Mullins Snr, who also moved to within one of Dermot Weld’s record tally of career winners by an Irish trainer of 4,377.
Sent off at 7/2 compared to the 1/3 favourite, the diminutive Il Etait Temps was able to overcome a very scruffy jump at the third-last to reel in the Arkle Chase victor and bag a third Grade 1 of the season and fourth in total.
The first came at Dublin Racing Festival over this minimum trip on testing ground when Danny bagged the first three Grade 1s of the meeting and then, after finishing third to Gaelic Warrior at Cheltenham, he looked to relish the step up to two and a half miles when victorious in the Manifesto Chase under Paul Townend.
Townend was on Gaelic Warrior this time around, as he attempted to close the gap on jockeys’ champions leader Jack Kennedy to two but there was nothing he could do as Il Etait Temps ranged up outside approaching the last and galloped away to have two and a quarter lengths in hand at the lollipop.
“We’ve an incredible team of owners and staff and the horses come if you have both of those,” said Willie Mullins of his new Grade 1 mark. “I’m delighted for the winners but I was feeling sorry for Paul, he needs winners to get up to Jack Kennedy and it’s just not happening at the minute. Hopefully he’ll have a better at tomorrow.
“He’s an extraordinary horse,” he continued in reference to Il Etait Temps. “He doesn’t look like a big steeplechaser but he’s got an engine and he jumps well. He’s just maturing and learning all the time.”
“It was a fantastic performance,” added Danny. “He’s all heart. He missed the third-last which wasn’t the jump I wanted at that point but came back on the bridle. And all the way down the straight I felt like I just had Paul’s measure.
“He’s been so consistent all year and to go and beat Gaelic Warrior, that’s his best performance yet.
“Good ground, soft ground, two mile, two and a half, he’s there battling for you every time. It’s not often you have one that can come and deliver Grade 1s to you every year and this lad has been very good to me.
“It’s been an unbelievable season. I’ve been riding good horses and I’m lucky enough at all these big festivals in big races, I’m riding horses with live chances and thankfully we’ve been converting them into winners. Long may it last.”
La Touche
One of the stories of the week was Singing Banjo winning the Mongey Communications La Touche Cup over the banks for the second year in a row at the age of 14.
A standing dish over one of the most traditional and historic races at the track, the 28/1 shot was given a brilliant ride by his owner and trainer Benny Walsh to get back in front and deny Three By Two, who made a significant mistake at the penultimate obstacle having been brought to challenge by Walsh’s fellow Wexford man, Jake Hendrick for trainer Denis Murphy.
Troytown Chase winner, Coko Beach was sent off a short-priced favourite in a bid to extend Kennedy’s advantage over Townend but the quicker ground was not in favour of the Gordon Elliott-trained charge and had to settle for third.
Singing Banjo was actually the first of the leading trio to come off the bridle but the gritty gelding found generously for his rider – fittingly so for a son of Generous.
“He loves the banks,” said Walsh afterwards. “We aim him for the banks the whole time but the ground was against him all season. He wants good ground. I was delighted there wasn’t much rain last night.
“He just stays galloping. He’s quick over the cross-country fences. He’s declared for Saturday so we’ll see how he is tomorrow.”
Harrington winner
Jessica Harrington may be focussed primarily on flat racing these days but she has never turned her back on jumps racing and saddling a winner at her local festival remains important to the Commonstown conditioner.
Harrington added to her phenomenal Punchestown CV as Pigeon House (16/1) triumphed in the Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle under Nico de Boinville.
The Gold Cup and multiple Grade 1 and Group 1 winning trainer had the Saxon Warrior chestnut in peak condition and had extra cause for celebration as part-owner too along with JP O’Flaherty, Mark Phelan and Punchestown general manager, son-in-law and Commonstown Stables team member, Richie Galway.
Noel Meade is another handler with a fine Punchestown CV that has been thriving on the level in recent years and the eight-time champion trainer got on the mark at the end of a thrilling conclusion to the Listed Frontline Security Handicap Chase.
The boss of Tu Va Stables denied his successor at the summit of the jumps’ game, Willie Mullins in a head bobber, as Pinkerton (15/2) inched back in front under the outstanding Sam Ewing, after being headed by Saint Roi and Aidan Kelly.
The runner-up made a dreadful error at the second-last to leave Pinkerton in front but the eight-year-old didn’t help himself when having a good look around in the approach to the last.
It was eyeball-to-eyeball all the way to the line and Pinkerton just prevailed by a short head.
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