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Il Etait Temps rules supreme with Punchestown-Cheltenham double

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Tue 28 Apr 2026

Il Etait Temps again demonstrated his class as he won at the highest level for the eighth time in adding the William Hill Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival to his two-mile crown from Cheltenham.

Marine Nationale – who completed the same double 12 months ago – took the field along in company with Majborough, with Paul Townend happy to drop the Willie Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps in the middle of the five runners.

Townend had given Il Etait Temps time to find his stride again after an earlier mistake and started to get lower in the saddle aboard the 8-11 favourite as they approached three from home, jumping two out in front.

He then stretched out to leave Marine Nationale – who has had an interrupted campaign – in his wake, winning by five lengths as the veteran Energumene kept on for a distant but creditable third – after which he was immediately retired.

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