Il Etait Temps, unquestionably the best two-mile chaser of last season, returns to action on Thursday seeking to defend his title in the Clonmel Oil Chase.

Four have been declared for the feature race of the season at Clonmel, a Grade 2 over two miles, five furlongs. Willie Mullins has dominated ten of the last 13 renewals, including the last four consecutively.

Twelve months ago, Il Etait Temps prevailed at Powerstown Park at the start of a season that yielded three Grade 1s, including the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and the William Hill Champion Chase at Punchestown by wide margins.

Should he prove successful again, Il Etait Temps will join just two horses to have won the Clonmel Oil Chase on more than one occasion.

The last to double up in the race was Tranquil Lake in 2011 and before that the mighty Dorans Pride won it four times from 1997 to 2000.

Kappa Jy Pike, also trained by Willie Mullins, is next highest on ratings and was a Grade 1 runner-up and Grade 3 winner last season.

The field is completed by Blaze The Way, a Grade 3 winner at Cheltenham last term for trainer Margaret Mullins, and the mare Herja, from the Oldtown, County Dublin stable of Mrs Frankie Griffin, third in the Racing Post Chase at Down Royal last weekend.

Eugene Cooney, Marketing Manager of Clonmel Racecourse said: “This will be the 24th year of sponsorship by Clonmel Oil and we are very grateful to the Connolly family for their steadfast support of our biggest day.

“The first of seven races is off at 12.50pm and there is a strong supporting card to look forward to. The Listed T.A. Morris Memorial Irish EBF Mares’ Chase features Dinoblue, twice a winner at the Cheltenham Festival, with some big-field events also programmed."

CLICK HERE FOR DECLARED RUNNERS FOR THE CLONMEL OIL CHASE ON THURSDAY