'A hell of a sire' - Mullins heading to the Jukebox after Il Etait Temps helps title push

Jukebox Jury might just be rewarded with further support from Willie Mullins after the Burgage Stud sire played a supporting role in getting the Irishman over the line in his battle royal with Dan Skelton to become Britain's champion National Hunt trainer.

Il Etait Temps was already the highest money-earner for the equally grey Irish St Leger hero, who first stood at Victor Connolly's County Carlow premises in 2018, after a few seasons standing in Germany.

Benefitting from a typically inspired ride by Mullins' nephew Danny to come home clear in the bet365 Celebration Chase it was a first senior Grade 1 for Il Etait Temps, who is French-bred and began life with Emmanuel Clayeux before he was bought privately by Wayne Kieswetter's Barnane Stud, still his partner owner now with Hollywood Racing.

However, on what was his first start for almost exactly a year, Il Etait Temps was adding to the three Grade 1s he won last season in novice chases and has another in the locker from his novice hurdling days.

Mullins also trained the Irish-bred Jukebox Jury mare Bambino Fever to land the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, with his domestic rival Gordon Elliott responsible for another Grade 1 success for the sire this term with Honesty Policy in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.

The trainer had elected to throw Il Etait Temps into the mix in support of stablemate Energumene, who followed hot favourite and defending title holder for the last two seasons Jonbon home for third.

"He's just had a niggly knee problem all year and every time we got him three-quarters right he went wrong again. We were preparing him for Punchestown but then we needed soldiers to come over here so we entered him in this race in case he came right," said Mullins.

"I was hoping he might get fourth money and Energumene get second or third money but it is extraordinary the way it has worked out.

Willie Mullins brought an army of talent to SandownCredit: Edward Whitaker

"It might transpire that he's better a little fresh, the other two horses have had a hard season and maybe that just told when push came to shove."

Any fees for Il Etait Temps' father, who is currently priced at €12,500, should not be too much of an issue for a man who has accumulated a healthy share in prize-money of over £3 million in Britain this season alone.

"He's by Jukebox Jury and he's a hell of a sire," Mullins told Racing TV. "He is just down the road from us [Leighlinbridge] and I think the few mares we have in France, we will get them back to Ireland now for him!

"Wayne is over from South Africa too so it's all worked out so well. We will see how he comes out of the race, Punchestown might be too soon for him, but there is nothing from him until October or November so he might just have a go at it."

By Montjeu, Jukebox Jury switched from Gestut Etzean to Victor Connolly's farm ahead of the 2018 covering season meaning that the 19-year-old's first Irish-bred crop is just six this year.

Honesty Policy and Bambino Fever are from the Royal Lodge and Grosser Preis von Europa winner's second Irish crop which was conceived at a fee of €6,000 and numbers 97. 

With such success this year, his three-year-olds will be in demand at the store sales which begin in three weeks' and will see Jukebox Jury's largest Irish-bred crop of 108 in the mix.

The grey is also the sire of Princess Zoe who was trained by Mullins' brother Tony to win the Group 1 Prix du Cadran and Group 3 Sagaro Stakes. The Gold Cup runner-up is her sire's best performer on the Flat.

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