TEMP RISES TO THE TASK

Two-miler survives last-fence scare in the Champion Chase to complete a Day Two treble for Willie Mullins

- By Melissa Jones

IL ETAIT TEMPS dismissed quality opposition to break his Cheltenham hoodoo in the Grade One BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase and headline a 503-1 treble for Willie Mullins.

The £400,000 feature centred around his stablemate Majborough, out to stop the rot for odds-on favourites in the last decade.

But like Defi Du Seuil, Chacun Pour Soi, Shishkin, El Fabiolo and Jonbon, he failed to measure up and was batted away by Il Etait Temps after taking the third-last fence by its roots.

As soon as Harry Skelton took a peek behind on L’Eau Du Sud, Paul Townend appeared on the scene aboard the well-supported 5-2 favourite.