Barberstown Castle Novice Chase |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 17:25 €125,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m½f, Class 1  |
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1 Il Etait Temps 7/2
2 Gaelic Warrior 1/3F
3 Hercule Du Seuil 11/1
4 Mount Frisco 125/1
4 ran Distances: 2¼l, 3½l, 29l Time: 4m 8.40s
A second G1 victory of the season for Il Etait Temps in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase 🏆 pic.twitter.com/XBsSmBEich
— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) May 2, 2024
The six-year-old Il Etait Temps entered the race with an impressive season behind him, having already clinched the Irish Arkle title and finished third in the Arkle itself. Additionally, he triumphed in the Manifesto Chase at Aintree in his most recent outing.
Despite these accomplishments, Il Etait Temps was not the favored contender to win at Grade One level. That honor belonged to his stablemate, Gaelic Warrior, who had previously outperformed him in the Arkle at Cheltenham in March.
In a compact field, four challengers vied for supremacy. As the race unfolded, outsider Mount Frisco dropped back, leaving three Willie Mullins-trained geldings to battle for victory. Ultimately, it was Il Etait Temps who emerged victorious, securing a two-and-a-quarter-length win under the skilled guidance of jockey Danny Mullins.
“He’s an extraordinary horse, that’s his third Grade One this year,” said the Closutton trainer.
“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.
“He’s getting a lot easier to ride. He has a good and a tongue-tie and that’s to keep the revs low on him. It’s working and we’ll keep them on him for the time being anyway.
“I’d imagine he’ll stay at the two-mile division until we think that he’s too slow, possibly on ground that he likes better.
“He never gives up. He’s settling now and more mature and concentrating his energy at the second half of the race.
“He’s a horse that I won’t mind going up in trip with and he could easily slot into being a Ryanair horse.”
Of the runner-up Mullins added: “I think Gaelic Warrior probably didn’t like the ground and it might just be drying up too much for him. He might be more of a winter horse.
“When he won here last year Paul (Townend) thought he didn’t move as well on it even though he won.
“I didn’t think he was as flashy jumping. He’s an extravagant jumper and he wasn’t that at all today.”
The result was a record 35th Grade One of the season for the all-conquering Mullins, who added: “We’ve an incredible team of owners and staff and the horses come if you have both of those.”
Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1)
€125,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m½f, Class 1
4 ran
Going: Yielding, Good to Yielding in places
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Il Etait Temps 6 11-12 W P Mullins Danny Mullin 7/2
2 2¼ Gaelic Warrior 6 11-12 W P Mullins Paul Townend 1/3F
3 3½ Hercule Du Seuil 7 11-12 W P Mullins Mark Walsh 11/1
4 29 Mount Frisco 5 11-12 John Patrick Ryan Daniel King 125/1
PAST RESULTS
Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2023 El Fabiolo 6 11-12 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede W P Mullins Paul Townend 1/4F
2022 Blue Lord 7 11-12 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede W P Mullins Paul Townend 2/1F
2021 Energumene 7 11-12 Tony Bloom W P Mullins Paul Townend 2/5F
2020 Abandoned - Covid-19
2019 Chacun Pour Soi 7-11-10 Mrs S Ricci Willie Mullins Robbie Power 3/1
2018 Footpad 6-11-10 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Willie Mullins DA Jacob 2/5F
2017 Great Field 6-11-10 J P McManus Willie Mullins J S McGarvey 9/10F
2016 Douvan 6-11-10 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 2/9F
2015 Un De Sceaux 7-11-10 Edward O’Connell Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 1/10 Fav
2014 God’s Own 6-11-10 Crossed Fingers P’ship Tom George GB Barry Geraghty 25/1
2013 Arvika Ligeionniere 8-11-10 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 7/2 Fav
2012 Lucky William 8-11-10 Garden Kingdom Synd. Tom Cooper Barry Geraghty 4/1
2011 Captain Chris 7-11-12 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs GB Richard Johnson 4/6 Fav
2010 Captain Cee Bee 9-11-12 J P McManus Eddie Harty A P McCoy 4/1
2009 Barker 8-11-12 E Duignan Willie Mullins David Casey 11/2
2008 Big Zeb 7-11-12 Patrick Redmond Colm Murphy Barry Geraghty 4/1
2007 Another Promise 8-11-12 Geoff Hubbard Racing Ferdy Murphy GB Graham Lee 5/1
2006 Accordion Etoile 7-11-12 Banjo Syndicate Paul Nolan John Cullen 9/4
2005 War Of Attrition 6-11-12 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris Conor O’Dwyer 3/1
2004 Say Again 8-11-12 Sean Duggan Paul Nolan John Cullen 6/1
2003 Le Roi Miguel 5-11-05 Judy Stewart Paul Nicholls GB Ruby Walsh 8/11 Fav
2002 Moscow Flyer 8-11-12 Brian Kearney Jessica Harrington Barry Geraghty 2/5 Fav
*2001 Alcapone 7-11-12 Castleblake Racing Synd. Mouse Morris David Casey 10/1
2000 Tiutchev 7-11-09 Liars Poker Partnership Nicky Henderson GB Mick Fitzgerald 9/10 Fav
1999 Sydney Twothousand 9-11-05 Mrs Michael Watt Noel Meade Norman Williamson 11/2
1998 Direct Route 7-11-09 Michael Thompson Howard Johnson GB Paul Carberry 11/10 Fav
1997 Jeffell 7-12-00 Thomas Bailey Arthur Moore Francis Woods 11/8 Fav
1996 Ventana Canyon 7-12-00 Philip Myerscough Edward O’Grady Richard Dunwoody 5/4 Fav
1995 Strong Platinum 7-12-00 Theresa McCoubrey Paddy Burke Conor O’Dwyer 7/4
1994 Oh So Grumpy 6-11-08 Mrs E Queally Jessica Harrington Jamie Osborne 20/1
1993 Viking Flagship 6-12-00 Roach Foods Ltd David Nicholson GB Richard Dunwoody 4/1
1992 Classical Charm 9-11-08 Al O’Connell Al O’Connell Ken Morgan 8/1
