Seven-year-old Il Etait Temps dominated the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, winning by a staggering nine lengths. The victory marked the sixth Grade One win of his career for trainer Willie Mullins and cemented his status as one of the top chasers in the country.
Il Etait Temps, ridden by jockey Paul Townend, was the clear favourite before the race, with his impressive record and speed making him a top contender. And it proved to be a justified punt, as he cruised past the competition with ease.
Jonbon, who had won the Tingle Creek Chase in two consecutive years, came second, while L'Eau Du Sud finished third. However, Townend was quick to praise Il Etait Temps' performance, describing him as "tiny but straightforward" and saying that he was "living up to all the promise" he showed as a young horse.
The victory marked Il Etait Temps' seventh win in nine chase starts, further solidifying his reputation as one of the top chasers in the UK. The win also came at a time when many were questioning whether the seven-year-old still had it in him, but Townend's assessment of his performance suggests that he is more than capable of competing at the highest level.
With this dominant victory under his belt, Il Etait Temps and trainer Willie Mullins will likely continue to be contenders for top prizes in British racing.
Il Etait Temps, ridden by jockey Paul Townend, was the clear favourite before the race, with his impressive record and speed making him a top contender. And it proved to be a justified punt, as he cruised past the competition with ease.
Jonbon, who had won the Tingle Creek Chase in two consecutive years, came second, while L'Eau Du Sud finished third. However, Townend was quick to praise Il Etait Temps' performance, describing him as "tiny but straightforward" and saying that he was "living up to all the promise" he showed as a young horse.
The victory marked Il Etait Temps' seventh win in nine chase starts, further solidifying his reputation as one of the top chasers in the UK. The win also came at a time when many were questioning whether the seven-year-old still had it in him, but Townend's assessment of his performance suggests that he is more than capable of competing at the highest level.
With this dominant victory under his belt, Il Etait Temps and trainer Willie Mullins will likely continue to be contenders for top prizes in British racing.
. I mean, he did win the Tingle Creek Chase two years ago, but Il Etait Temps is just on another level right now 
. He was the clear fave for a reason and Paul Townend rode him perfectly - that tiny but straightforward description from Jonbon's jockey is spot on 
. And yeah, some people were wondering if Il Etait Temps had it in him anymore, but this win proves he's still got the pace to compete with the best 
. Willie Mullins' training skills are on point as always - that sixth Grade One win for his horse is a testament to his expertise 
.
! I mean, that little guy came out of nowhere and dominated the competition like it was his job 
. It's amazing to see a 7-year-old still having it going on, proving all those naysayers wrong 
. This win just shows that with hard work and determination, you can achieve anything 
!
i mean, that horse is like a force of nature lol he just glides past everyone and leaves them in the dust! paul townend's description of him as "tiny but straightforward" is so true - il etait temps may not be the biggest or the prettiest, but he's got heart and determination for days. what i love most about british racing is how you can get these incredible upsets with horses from all walks of life - il etait temps was a 7/1 outsider before the race, so this just proves that you never know what's gonna happen in racing 
. And you know what's even crazier? People doubted whether he still had it in him at seven years old... but Paul Townend just proved them wrong