Lisgoold jockey Paul Townend lands Tingle Creek Chase on Il Etait Temps

There was significant success from a Cork perspective at Sandown Park over the weekend. 

Lisgoold jockey Paul Townend landed the Grade One featured Betfair Tingle Creek Chase on Il Etait Temps on Saturday. In the process, he shortened to 7/2 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March. Un De Sceaux had won this race for Cork owners in 2016. 

Earlier on the card, popular Cork owners Joe and Marie Donnelly landed the Grade One Henry VIII Novices' Chase with Nicky Henderson’s Lulumba. He advertised his Arkle Chase credentials with a very impressive performance. 

He has emerged as a serious rival to the Fermoy-owned Kopek Des Bordes, who is currently top-priced 2/1 favourite for the Arkle in March. Lulumba is now 5/2 for that race. 

It was also confirmed that the Donnellys' exciting prospect Sir Gino, has schooled over hurdles with a run in Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle the target following the Fighting Fifth fall of Constitution Hill last weekend. Sir Gino is top priced 9/2 for the Champion Hurdle in March.

TOWNEND’S TINGLE CREEK 

Il Etait Temps landed the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park for Willie Mullins and Townend. He was a comprehensive winner from Jonbon, who had landed the last two renewals of this iconic Grade One race. 

Il Etait Temps had also beaten Jonbon at Sandown in the Celebration Chase at the end of last season. He was a strong market order into 8/11 having been backed at 5/6.

Townend was content to track Jonbon and L'eau Du Sud in the early stages. Jonbon set the fractions sporting first-time cheekpieces and jumping noticeably better than on his reappearance last month. He was still in front at the Pond Fence but was now flanked on either side. 

Townend got a dream run through on Il Etait Temps, up the inside on the turn for home. It was a pivotal moment as he quickened into a decisive lead. Il Etait Temps landed with real momentum at the second last and was away and gone in the twinkling of an eye. 

The compact grey gelding was spring-heeled at the final fence and bounded clear up the Sandown hill to win by an emphatic nine lengths. Jonbon finished an honourable second nine lengths clear of L'eau Du Sud, who as the market implied, ran below par.

CHELTENHAM MARCH:

Il Etait Temps is now 7/2 favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival ahead of his younger stable companion Majborough.

He had won six of his previous eight starts over fences and been a facile winner at Clonmel last month. 

Il Etait Temps has never really got the credit he deserves. What impressed most observers today was how well he travelled off a strong pace set by Jonbon. It was a majestic paint-scraping ride from Townend and when he pounced, it was game, set and match in an instant.