It Etait Temps completed a dream hour for Danny Mullins with a treble on the board, when winning the Goffs Irish Arkle at Leopardstown, where Marine Nationale was a huge disappointment back in fifth place.
Having already won the opening two Grade Ones on Dancing City and Kargese on the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival, Mullins was riding full of confidence, but faced huge opposition in the shape of Barry Connell's unbeaten Marine Nationale - not to mention Facile Vega, a stablemate of the Willie Mullins-trained winner.
It was Gordon Elliott's Found A Fifty who ensured there was to be no hanging about and with Facile Vega on his heels, there was no letting up in the pace.
"It's Danny’s Day!"
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 3, 2024
A hat-trick for Danny Mullins as Il Etait Temps (6/1) finishes strongly to win the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Steeplechase.
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Sent off the 4-7 favourite, Marine Nationale had been settled in third, but his jumping was not as assured as on his debut and Il Etait Temps moved passed him down the back straight.
As the field turned in Marine Nationale briefly threatened to take a hand, but a bad mistake at the last sealed his fate.
Found A Fifty looked like he had done enough to hold on, but Il Etait Temps gamely dug in to win by a neck at 6-1.
Kargese came out on top of the Willie Mullins battalion in the McCann FitzGerald Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown, with the trainer sending out the first four home to net a double on the day for Danny Mullins
Six of the 10 runners hailed from Mullins' Closutton yard, with stable number one Paul Townend plumping for the once-raced Storm Heart.
Another from Team Mullins was JP McManus' Majborough and he attempted to make all under Mark Walsh, looking a fine long-term prospect in the process, but turning into the straight, the race began to change complexion.
It's two from two for Danny Mullins as Kargese finishes strongly in the McCann FitzGerald Spring Juvenile Hurdle.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 3, 2024
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Townend tried to follow Kargese (7-2) through but it soon became apparent that Danny Mullins was holding on to a lot more on the eventual winner.
Just like 12 months ago, when Mullins on Gala Marceau got the better of Townend on Lossiemouth, it was the same sinking feeling for the champion jockey, especially as he had also got the choice wrong in the opener, as he watched Mullins on Dancing City pull away from him.
Kargese runs in the famous Honeysuckle silks, like Gala Marceau, and owner Kenny Alexander has another nice filly for the future, as she won by a length and a quarter from Storm Heart, with Majborough another half a length back in third and Bunting a close fourth.
The Dublin Racing Festival began as many expected with a Willie Mullins-trained winner, but not with the one most predicted, as complete outsider Dancing City beat favourite Predators Gold in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle.
With Paul Townend plumping for Predators Gold from the four Mullins runners, punters took that as a clear hint he was seen as the number one contender, despite stepping up six furlongs in trip from his Christmas outing.
Townend settled the market leader at the rear, as Danny Mullins on Dancing City (16-1) set out to make the running at a sedate tempo, but Rachael Blackmore was having none of it and after half a mile Jetara was allowed to stride on.
It's Dancing City (16/1) who claims the first win at this year’s Dublin Racing Festival, holding off Predators Gold.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 3, 2024
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Blackmore had a scary moment approaching the second last when she lost her left stirrup but was soon back on an even keel, although the Mullins pair loomed up on the turn for home.
Predators Gold had every chance on the outside but Dancing City kept on finding for pressure and went on to win by a length and a quarter. To Jetara's credit, she stuck on gamely for third.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport afterwards, Danny Mullins said: "The plan was to jump out and make it, Rachael wanted to ensure a stronger gallop so a little bit of plan b at halfway, but the horse was there when I wanted him at the finish."
"When you're riding for Willie, if something happens and you need to adjust to improve your chances of winning, you do that.
"More often than not...I think I might have been the outsider of the field and pops up and wins a Grade 1."
Maxxum produced a fine weight-carrying performance to give young jockey Carl Millar by far the biggest success of his fledgling career in the Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle.
Millar only had eight previous winners to his name but proved great value for his 7lb claim on Gordon Elliott's top weight.
Maxxum had won at Leopardstown last Christmas and went off 7-4 favourite for this very race 12 months ago, only to disappoint.
Having looked in the grip of the handicapper, Elliott sent him chasing.
He had been back over hurdles for his last two outings but was sent off at 28-1, having been pulled up on the most recent of those.
Millar was positive from the outset, though, and while Gaoth Chuil travelled much better, Maxxum stuck to his task to win by three-quarters of a length.
