San Francisco Frontiers - All-conquering Mullins lands Champion Chase with Il Etait Temps

Mullins had won the Champion Hurdle on the opening day and such is his stable's strength, even though his Champion Chase odds-on favourite Majborough disappointed, Il Etait Temps was there to pick up the prize.

Not even a terrible error at the last fence could stop Paul Townend and Il Etait Temps racing clear to the line.

His victory gave Mullins a treble on the day as the Irish won five of the first six races in front of a crowd of just over 46,000.

Townend marvelled at how Il Etait Temps had rebounded after a heavy fall at Ascot last time out.

"It shows how tough he is to have travelled, taken the fall, and then come back," said Townend.

"He was such a courageous horse today, he was flat to the boards everywhere.

"Luckily he found a leg at the last!"

The winner is part-owned by the Barnane Stud that belongs to the family of South Africa-born former England cricketer Craig Kieswetter.

"We would take standing in the cold here for something like that, instead of the warmth of South Africa," said Kieswetter, who had flown over with several of the other owners.

Mullins and Townend had got their day off to a winning start as King Rasko Grey won the Grade One Novices Hurdle at 11/1.

Mullins said it was a "poignant moment" for owners the Turleys, whose two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin des Champs was retired just days before the Festival.

Townend said he hoped King Rasko Grey would give the Turleys equally great days ahead.

"Love this horse," said Townend. "He is a little babyish but he is a very exciting horse.

"Galopin brought us the highs of the highs but he doesn't owe anyone anything.

"We had some magnificent days with him, and hopefully this fellow will follow in his footsteps."

All was not sweetness and light, however, as Irish amateur rider Declan Queally and leading English jockey Nico de Boinville had a frank exchange before the start of the race.

"Being abused by an English rider wasn't very nice," Queally said after finishing fifth on his horse I'll Sort That.

"I've come over here with my kids, it was horrific in front of my kids."

De Boinville, when asked about Queally's comments, retorted: "He should look in the mirror."

- 'Made of iron' -

Townend riding Final Demand had to give second best in the Grade One Novices Chase, as another Mullins runner, Kitzbuhel, prevailed under a brilliant ride by Harry Cobden.

Cobden, who led from start to finish, had had a nightmare ride in the opener on the favourite No Drama This End.

"I had no luck at all in the first always got stopped wherever I went, it is extraordinary how 40 minutes can change your life," he said.

"He is made of iron, this chap."

Welsh jockey James Bowen only rode his first Festival winner in the last on Tuesday, but along came a second in the valuable handicap hurdle on the Nicky Henderson-trained Jingko Blue.

The victorious owners, the Barneys, name their horses with the initials of their son James, who was killed in a car crash aged 16.

"This is extra special as James Bowen has the same initials as our son," said an emotional Tony Barney, whose Jango Baie is a strong fancy for Friday's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

There was a tragic postscript to the race as Irish runner HMS Seahorse had to be put down after a terrible fall at the last hurdle.

The Irish surge continued as they won the Cross Country Chase with Conor Stone-Walsh, just 19, riding his first Festival winner.

B.Turner--SFF