Victory aboard Il Etait Temps in the Grade 1 Irish Arkle Novice Chase made it three-from-three for jockey Danny Mullins and trainer Willie Mullins at Leopardstown on Saturday.
The two mile Grade 1 contest was expected to be all about hot favourite Marine Nationale but four were in contention over the last fence - long time leader Found A Fifty, Facile Vega, Marine Nationale and Il Etait Temps. With Marine Nationale stumbling on landing and Facile Vega beginning to fade, it was left to Gordon Elliott's Found A Fifty and Il Etait Temps to fight stride for stride up the run in, with Mullins finding a little bit more.
"Danny is just on fire today," said trainer Willie Mullins.
"This horse is improving, his jumping is improving and he's settling as well. He didn't have much respect for hurdles, but he has far more respect for fences and that's bringing out improvement in him.
"It just shows you that chasers come in all shapes and sizes, he's not the biggest horse in the world. He's obviously very effective over this trip and we'll look forward to the Arkle in Cheltenham.
"He showed plenty of resolution and Danny just timed his run well.
"Facile Vega will probably stay at that trip as well. I was very happy with him, even though he got beaten. I saw a lot in the race to say that he's coming along and improving as well."
Paddy Power reacted to the result by cutting Il Etait Temps from 10/1 to 7/2 for the Arkle Trophy and lengthened Marine Nationale from 8/15 favourite to 11/4 second favourite behind Gaelic Warrior.
