Il Etait Temps set up a mouthwatering rematch with Jonbon at Sandown next month in cruising to an easy victory on his return to action in the Clonmel Oil Chase.
Willie Mullins' popular grey was last seen winning the Celebration Chase at Sandown in April ahead of the Nicky Henderson-trained Jonbon, an effort made even more notable coming as it did after a lengthy injury-enforced absence.
Prior to that he had collected several more Grade One titles, and was the 2-9 favourite under Paul Townend as he began his 2025-26 campaign at Grade Two level against three rivals.
Former Irish Grand National hero Intense Raffles and Topham winner Gentleman De Mee were among the small but select field, but both failed to land a blow and it was Phillip Enright’s 22-1 chance Senecia who came home a well-beaten runner-up as Il Etait Temps triumphed by 18 lengths.
Townend said: "He was very settled early on, and for a long way I wondered if he was too settled. I thought Mark (Walsh, on Gentleman De Mee) would lead me further but two jumps put me on the back of the leader, and then he woke up.
"To me he was just quicker than the opposition and I wanted to delay leading for another three furlongs, but he took the lead before I wanted to at all. He settled it quickly and was ready to do it today, but there’ll be more improvement in him."
The Tingle Creek, for which Il Etait Temps is now the joint-favourite alongside Jonbon, looks to be on the horizon next.
Townend said: "Willie's plan before he left (for America and Australia) was the Tingle Creek.
"We always thought an awful lot of him, but he didn’t jump hurdles well. He is only a handy-sized horse, but jumps fences economically and well.
"The engine was always there, but he had been hard on himself and it has taken him time to mature and us time to figure him out."
A very smooth performance from Il Etait Temps to give Willie Mullins a 10th win in the @ClonmelR Oil Chase 🏆 pic.twitter.com/9wWv5gZXiO
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) November 6, 2025
Spindleberry maintained her flawless record over fences with victory in the TA Morris Memorial Irish EBF Mares Chase.
The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old was a Grade One runner-up over hurdles and then made a seamless switch to larger obstacles, winning all three starts with ease last season.
She signed off last term with victory in the Grade One WillowWarm Gold Cup, and started the new campaign at Listed level as the 2-5 favourite at Clonmel.
Paul Townend was in the saddle, with Spindleberry's two-length success the result of a fast-paced finish after a steadily-run affair.
"We went slow, she was idle in front and we dashed for three furlongs, but she is very straightforward," said the winning rider.
"It was a brilliant starting point on ground which wasn’t bottomless and while she was ready to run, she will improve from it.
"She is just a very good racehorse, but you wouldn’t come back in trip with her. She is an easy ride which would also give her a chance at staying further distances.
"Her hurdle form was good but she had to drop back to two miles a few times and she’s taken to fences really well and has matured."
Gordon Elliott had a smart winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle as Kovanis prevailed by thee lengths at 9-2, after which Henry de Bromhead’s Scope To Improve won the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle by a margin of five lengths on his debut over obstacles.
"He is a bit keen and is mad to get on with things and in fairness to Darragh (O’Keeffe) he did a great job in settling him in behind the leader," the winning trainer said of the 2-7 favourite.
"He jumped well, he seemed to pick up nicely and Darragh was happy with him.
"It was a slow-run race and he picked up well so we’ll keep feeling our way with him, it is about keeping the lid on him. He was fresh today but hopefully will calm down with more racing.
"I’m delighted for brothers Paddy and Paul Hale (owners) and he is a horse we like at home, so we were hoping he’d do that."
