Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1)

CONSIDERING the ridiculous depth to his squad this season, it’s not a major shock that Willie Mullins has managed to break his own record for Grade 1 winners in a single campaign. It’s probably more eyecatching, however, that only State Man has contributed more top-level wins to the Closutton haul this term than the thoroughly likeable Il Etait Temps.

In upsetting 1/3 favourite and stablemate Gaelic Warrior in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase, the pint-sized six-year-old brought up a world-record 35th Grade 1 win of the season for the champion trainer.

The 7/2 winner, owned by the Hollywood Syndicate and Barnane Stud, followed in the footsteps of the stable’s Mystical Power and Dancing City by winning at Punchestown after taking in Grade 1 assignments at Cheltenham and Aintree this spring.

In fact, Il Etait Temps was notching his third win at the highest level during the current campaign and had previously finished second in the strongly-debated Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick over Christmas before landing the Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival. Under regular rider Danny Mullins, he has been thriving on a busy schedule.

“He’s an extraordinary horse,” said the winning trainer, who saddled the first three home in this four-runner contest.

“To look at him, he doesn’t look like a big steeplechaser but he’s got an engine and jumps well. He’s maturing and learning all the time, getting a lot easier to ride. He wears a hood and tongue-tie, which is just to keep the revs low for him. It’s working so we’ll keep it on him.

“I’d imagine we’ll stay at the two-mile division next season until we think he’s too slow, but possibly on ground he likes better. He never gives up and is now concentrating his energy on the second half of the race. I won’t mind going up in trip with him, he could easily be a Ryanair horse.”

Asked about the record 35th Grade 1 victory, Mullins added: “As I keep going back to, we have an incredible team of owners and staff. The horses come if you have both of those.”

Gaelic Warrior was only eased to 7/2 (from 3/1) for next year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase with Ladbrokes following this two-and-a-quarter-length defeat, while Il Etait Temps was trimmed to 10/1 (from 14/1) for the 2025 Ryanair Chase.

“I think Gaelic Warrior probably didn’t like the ground [described as yielding, good to yielding in places],” said the trainer.

“He’s probably more of a winter horse. Paul felt the same when he won here last year, that he didn’t move as well even though he won that day. He’s usually an extravagant jumper and I didn’t think he was as flashy in his jumping today.”