Willie Mullins aiming to win €200,000 race for just second time with odds-on favourite

Willie Mullins is hoping a long-term plan pays off on Saturday afternoon when Il Etait Temps lines up in the Betfair Tingle Creek at Sandown.

The seven-year-old bolted up in the Celebration Chase at the same venue in his only start of last season as the Closutton maestro was crowned champion trainer in the UK for the second year in succession. Il Etait Temps finished five and a half lengths ahead of runner-up Jonbon on that occasion and does battle with Nicky Henderson's star chaser once again at Esher track.

Saturday's feature has been the aim for Il Etait Temps ever since that victory and the son of Jukebox Jury began this season with victory in the Clonmel Oil Chase last month. He beat Senecia by 18 lengths on that occasion under Paul Townend, who is back on board on Saturday.

Mullins is aiming to win the Tingle Creek, a €200,000 race, for just the second time following Un de Sceaux's victory in 2016.

He said in his Sporting Life column about Il Etait Temps: "He gave us a great day at Sandown at the end of last season when beating Jonbon in the Celebration Chase without having had a run before. Hopefully we can replicate that form on Saturday and he has the benefit of an outing this time around at Clonmel. He goes there in tip-top order. It’s a race we’d love to win again, and he’s in good form."

Ross Doyle, racing manager for owners Hollywood Racing & Barnane Stud, added: “There’s massive excitement and he’s been a great servant who owes us nothing, so we’re very much looking forward to the race on Saturday.

“He was breathtaking at Sandown at the end of last season and Willie was very keen to get him a run at Clonmel as a prep run for the Tingle Creek. We were obviously very happy with that and it’s all systems go now for the Tingle Creek.

“All the owners are excited and the majority will be there so it will be a big day for everybody.

“He has to prove himself again this season and there will be opportunities like Saturday there for him. If he can stay in one piece and we get a bit of luck, then hopefully we will be at the top table for the rest of the season.”

Dan Skelton's L'Eau du Sud, who beat Jonbon by 1 lengths in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham last month, also lines up in the Grade 1 contest.

“I’m really happy with him, we’ve got no negatives,” said Skelton.

“We’re taking on Jonbon with a run under his belt and that will obviously be harder and Willie is sending over Il Etait Temps, so it’s going to be very hard because he looks bombproof.

“They can ride him how they want, he’s versatile, he’s going to be a very hard horse to beat. He’s a worthy favourite but we aren’t backing out.

“I noticed no change in ours over the summer, he just looked a bit better! I don’t know why but there’s no change in him physically. They are allowed to improve, some go the other way so it’s nice when they improve.

“It can be difficult for those second-season chasers as you either take the leap like we’re doing or you go in a handicap when they are too high, so it can be a case of the awkward second album.

“For every one we have that can go up, I’m sure we’ll have five that go the other way.”

Meanwhile, Jonbon will wear cheekpieces as he aims to win the race for the third year on the spin.

“Nicky is very happy with him, he’s been in good form since the run at Cheltenham and is hoping he’ll come on a bit, so we’re looking forward to getting him out again,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.

“We’ve put cheekpieces on him and the lads are hoping it might sharpen him up a little bit over the trip.

“Hopefully we don’t get too much more rain and he has a bit of work to do against both Il Etait Temps and L’Eau Du Sud who will be tough customers to beat, but he never runs a bad race and he will give a good account of himself once again.”

The Evan Williams-trained Libberty Hunter and Harry Fry’s Boothill complete the line-up.

Betfair Spokesperson, James Mackie said: “The 2025 Betfair Tingle Creek Chase sees five runners head to post for Sandown’s Saturday feature contest and I am very much looking forward to the clash between the top three in the market. It looks a tight contest with some movement in the market but no change when it comes to how our punters are currently seeing the race.

“Willie Mullins’ Il Etait Temps leads the betting at 10/11 having been as short as 4/7 in the ante-post market with the trainer looking to win the race for the first time since 2016.

“L’Eau du Sud is the leading British hope at 5/2 for Dan and Harry Skelton, with the team looking to land a second Betfair sponsored Grade 1 after Grey Dawning won the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November. The likeable grey is another of the entered horses that we have seen take a slight walk in the betting from the ante-post stage.

“Dual winner of the race Jonbon is looking to land the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase for the third time in a row for trainer Nicky Henderson and has been the slight mover in the market now 16/5 from 9/2.”

Betfair Tingle Creek Chase odds - EW Terms (1/4 Odds, 2 Places)

Il Etait Temps 10/11

L'Eau du Sud 5/2

Jonbon 10/3

Libberty Hunter 25/1

Boothill 33/1

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