The Barnane Stud owned, in partnership with Ross Doyle, PW Jones and Hollywood Syndicate, Il Etait Temps stamped a potential ticket to Cheltenham when he romped home to a clear-cut win in the G1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Handicap at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Racing in the silks of the Hollywood Syndicate, most recently seem when the similar partnership landed the G1 Cartier Paddock Stakes with Make It Snappy off the back of her victory in the G1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas, the racing partnership is clearly going from strength to strength, not only locally, but internationally.
The five-year-old son of Jukebox Jury provided trainer Willie Mullins with some cheer after the Mullins trained favourite for the race, Lucky Vega, ran last in Sunday’s contest.
Under Danny Mullins, Il Etait Temps accelerated away to stun onlookers with a facile nine-and-a-half-length victory.
The winning trainer said after the win, “The winner he’s a very good horse. He’s just got to get his jumping right, he made a mistake at the first again today. He’s a Grade One horse. I’ve always thought a lot of him, but he just has to get his jumping right. He got a very cute ride from Danny as well.
“He knew what was going to happen and he just popped him in behind and said ‘I’ll let the two in front have their battle and see if we can pick up the pieces afterwards’ and he surely did.
“They just went too fast in front, the pace was wrong, and Danny had his fractions right.”
Il Etait Temps was subsequently cut 5/1 from 25/1 for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The French bred gelding was produced by the Dom Alco mare Une Des Sources.
