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Il Etait Temps relished the return to a longer trip in Aintree’s opening race, the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase on Thursday.
Third in the Arkle Trophy over two miles behind stablemate Gaelic Warrior at the Cheltenham Festival, the Willie-Mullins trained grey appeared to be struggling in the early stages, with Ginny's Destiny setting a strong pace at the front under Harry Cobden. The race appeared to be shaping into a rematch between Turners Novices' Chase first and second Grey Dawning and Ginny's Destiny as the runners turned for home, but Il Etait Temps jumped into contention at the second-last fence and kicked clear up the run-in for jockey Paul Townend.
"That was nice," said Mullins.
"I loved the manner in which he did it. I was really taken with how he walked round the parade ring before the race - I haven't seen him as loose for a while, and I thought if he could run like he walked, he'd run a big race. And then when he jumped off at the start, I think for the first three-quarters of a circuit, I was very worried. He just seemed very behind himself, and I don't think he'll need his hood in future. But he warmed to his task, jumped well later in the race and he just kept galloping. Jukebox Jury is a right sire and we'll be using more of him.
"I think probably trip is more important than track to him. He did win over two miles, but this performance today over two and a half is fantastic. At this end of the season horses are tired and he took a bit of time to warm into it, but I'm happy that he's going to improve for further a trip as he gets older. He's a fine horse, probably only 16.1hh if that - the normal sort for today is a big 16.3hh chaser - and the important thing about him is that he turns up for everything. He's made of iron - there's never an issue with him, and that counts for a great deal.
"Every little helps [towards the trainers' title], but they [Skelton and Nicholls] will be hoping they can just keep ahead and then that we don't win the National. A lot of our thing depends on how we do in the National. If we don't do that, it will be very, very tough."
Jockey Paul Townend said: "The pace was strong enough, I thought, for the ground. It's hard work out there. Early on we were struggling - for a horse that ran in the Arkle, stepping up in trip, I thought I would be sitting second, no bother, but he warmed up to it. A lot fell in his favour today. He's a good horse, just hasn't been getting the best rub of it.
"I was hoping that when I got him competitive, he'd come alive, and he did. Once we were in a challenging position, we were able to hang on to it."
Paddy Power shortened Il Etait Temps from 33/1 to 14/1 for next year's Grade 1 Ryanair Chase.