Il Etait Temps delivered a stunning victory in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, overcoming a final-fence stumble to win by 10 lengths. The eight-year-old grey, trained by Willie Mullins, had fallen at Ascot in his previous start but bounced back to form that saw him win the Tingle Creek in December.

Stablemate Majborough set a strong pace early but fell five fences from home, opening the door for Il Etait Temps. Paul Townend's patient ride paid off as the horse took the lead before the final fence, stumbled on landing, but still powered clear of Libberty Hunter at 50-1 and L'Eau Du Sud. Owner Craig Kieswetter, a former England cricketer, celebrated the win with family who had flown from South Africa.

Mullins revealed the horse had been shaken by his January fall in the Clarence House Chase but recovered quickly once back in routine. The trainer credited removing the hood and adjusting training methods for restoring the spark. "I had a bit of a heart attack at the last," Mullins admitted, "but it looked like he had plenty of horse underneath him."