Il Etait Temps claimed another top-level prize when prevailing in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown.
The six-year-old came into the race on the back of a successful season, within which he has won the Irish Arkle, finished third in the Arkle itself and then claimed the Manifesto Chase at Aintree last time out.
Despite that he was not the favourite to strike again at Grade One level as his stablemate Gaelic Warrior took that status as the first horse home when the two met in the Arkle at Cheltenham in March.
In a small field the four challengers travelled closely before outsider Mount Frisco fell away, leaving three Willie Mullins-trained geldings to fight it out.
Il Etait Temps (9-2) was the one who came off best, claiming a two-and-a-quarter-length victory under 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."
Veteran campaigner Singing Banjo came to the fore to take the Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase at Punchestown for the second time.
The 14-year-old is a veritable specialist around the banks course, having won the race in 2021 as part of a famous double that also included the Ladies Perpetual Cup.
"Fours miles couldn't separate them, a furlong can hardly seperate them and the last 50 yards will see Singing Banjo lift another La Touche!"
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 2, 2024
Absolute belter of a renewal of the Cross Country Chase at the #PunchestownFestival #RTEracing
📺Watch LIVE on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player pic.twitter.com/NbETUSs1k3
He has plenty of other form around the track, too, but as the oldest horse in the race and with highly-rated rivals like Coko Beach in the field, he started at modest odds of 28-1 for trainer and jockey Barry John Walsh.
His experience served him well, however, and after locking horns with Coko Beach and Three By Two he stayed on best of all triumph by three-quarters of a length.
"He just stays galloping all day, he needs a trip," said Walsh, for whom the success was his first as a trainer.
"He got hampered a little bit at the old double, it wasn't ideal but he was hard and finished out strong.
"He loves the banks and we aim him for these races the whole time. The ground was just against us all season, he wants good ground.
"He won on firm here when taking the Ladies Cup and La Touche in one week. I was delighted to see it drying a bit here yesterday.
"He's lightly-raced and we'll see how he comes out of this. He's declared for Saturday and we'll see tomorrow how he is.
"We'd be hoping to get another season out of him for the cross-country, maybe at Cheltenham if the ground comes up good."
Pinkerton shades a cracking Frontline Security Handicap Chase at the #PunchestownFestival by the bare minimum.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 2, 2024
Watch the action now on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer #RTEracing pic.twitter.com/wVPCIDeJJE
The Listed Frontline Security Handicap Chase went the way of Noel Meade's Pinkerton after a photo finish was required to split the first two over the line.
The winner went off at 15-2 under Sam Ewing and came out on top in a field of 17, prevailing by a short head just over a week after scoring at Tipperary.
"He came out of last week's race great. I was a disappointed he didn't win a bit easier there as it was a very ordinary contest, he struggled a bit and was maybe in front a bit long," said Meade.
"Today when he went to the front he wandered a bit going to the last.
"It's great for the owners to win here, he's been a super little horse for them.
"He's tough and the jockey is very good, he's very strong.
"He mightn't go on real quick ground, he wants an ease, but we'll carry on for the moment and see how we go."
