We Can Hear The Cheltenham Hooves!
March is here and some are saying it’s spring in the UK. For racing fans, that can only mean Cheltenham.
The four day festival is just under two weeks away and interestingly there is now a South African connection to this iconic British event.
Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins, who has 59 potential runners across all four days, has included gray gelding Il Etait Temps as one of the stable’s four nominations for the inaugural event, the Gr1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. This race is famous for the Cheltenham ‘Roar’ where runners jump away on their 2 mile journey.
Willie Mullins – another massive hand
Il Etait Temps is leased by the Hollywood Syndicate in partnership with Barnane Stud. Barnane Stud represents the Irish branch of the Kieswetter family stud farm, known in South Africa from the Ridgemont Highlands Stud Farms in the Western Cape.
Il Etait Temps had shown good form last season, placing in all three of his youth races. The fact that these were Group 1 competitions only added value and Willie Mullins always emphasized that the skill was there and the jumping just needed improvement.
Not only has he strengthened this season, but his jumping has improved with each of his three starts, culminating in success in Group 1. That was last month at the Tattersalls Irish Novices’ Hurdle at the Dublin Festival, where he booked his ticket to that festival.
Il Etait Temps – SA liaison and Gr1 runner on Day 1
According to his trainer: “He is learning to race and jump properly at the highest level. Danny Mullins is looking forward to driving it and if he can pull it all together at Cheltenham he will be there at the finish line either way. He is a living in the Supreme.”
His stablemates might be among his biggest threats namely – Diverge, Hunters Yarn and Facile Vega.
Diverge, a Frankel son, raced at the Flat last season before joining Mullins stables. Unplaced in his first start, he then won a first hurdle at Punchestown by 23 lengths. At this level of performance, this progressive guy has to be respected, but he’s making a huge leap in class now.
Hunters Yarn, a 6 year old by Fame And Glory, is another strain that improves. Beaten only once in five starts over 2 miles, he is rated by the yard and could also compete in the Supreme.
However, Il Etait Temps’ biggest threat from the court should be Facile Vega.
A beaten favorite in Leopardstown, where Il Etait Temps was a clear winner, Mullins believes they misread tactics in the race for Quevega’s son. “He and High Definition just locked horns passing the winner’s post on the first circuit and were doing a quarter mile speed going down the back at the reservoir and the first hurdle and he was just pushing himself too hard.”
Willie Mullins summarizes: “Paul (Townend) pulled him up when things weren’t going well down the stretch. I’m just happy about a change in tactics in Sky Bet Supreme.”
“I don’t see a problem coming back – I think he has the skill and class for the race and has every chance. He was very good after Leopardstown.”