Il Etait Temps facing best of British at Sandown

Il Etait Temps, L’Eau Du Sud and Jonbon are all among six confirmations for the Betfair Tingle Creek at Sandown on Saturday.

It is nine years wince Willie Mullins last won the Grade One two-mile chase, with the hugely popular Un De Sceaux.

Il Etait Temps has won six of his eight races over fences and looked a real force to be reckoned with when downing Jonbon in the Celebration Chase over the same course and distance they face here back in April.

That came on his first outing for almost a year, having last been seen beating top-class stablemate Gaelic Warrior at the 2024 Punchestown Festival. He returned to action this season with an easy win in the Clonmel Oil Chase.

Jonbon, meanwhile, is slightly on a retrieval mission. He made his seasonal reappearance in the Shloer Chase, as he had for the previous two seasons, but he had no answer on the day to L’Eau Du Sud.

The Dan Skelton-trained grey was making his first outing out of novice company and looked revitalised, but now needs to back it up.

Evan Williams will be hoping for a clear round from Libberty Hunter, who has failed to complete in his last two races.

Alan King’s veteran Edwardstone, who was beaten a long way by L’Eau Du Sud in the Shloer, and Boothill complete the list.