Kappa Jy Pyke stamps class on Clonmel Oil Chase

Kappa Jy Pyke proved an able deputy for illustrious stablemate Il Etait Temps in the Clonmel Oil Chase.

Willie Mullins had earmarked the Grade Two contest once more for the reigning Queen Mother Champion Chase hero to make his eagerly awaited return to action, but when jockey Paul Townend walked the track the ground was deemed too fast for the grey, as it was for star mare Dinoblue in an earlier contest.

Luckily for Mullins and Townend they had another high-class horse waiting in the wings, with Kappa Jy Pyke having won twice as a novice over fences last season and also finished second in a Grade One.

Facing only two rivals rated vastly inferior, Townend bounced out and made the running and while neither Blaze The Way or Herja were far behind two out, two slick jumps soon sealed the deal and Kappa Jy Pyke came home a length and three-quarters clear of the latter to win at cramped odds of 2-9.

Assistant trainer Patrick Mullins said: “He is a top-class horse who beat Salvator Mundi last year and also finished second in the WillowWarm Gold Cup.

“The Clonmel Oil is a prestigious race and worth a lot of money so it is brilliant for the owners Michele and Richard (Varmen), who are from England and this is their only horse.

“They hacked around, sprinted up the straight and any mistake at the last two fences would have meant ‘curtains’, but he was brave and jumped very well. He didn’t get a hard race so it is job done.

“He can be versatile trip-wise going forward.”

Of Il Etait Temps, Mullins added: “He came down today but Paul walked around and felt it was better to be safe than sorry. Having two top-class horses taking each other on would mean that they would be racing harder, so there is that side to it as well.

“Il Etait Temps could go to Sandown (Tingle Creek) now but that could also prove to be too quick, so we’ll wait and see. The Hilly Way Chase is also there but Majborough could run there, so it will be a Willie decision.”

In Dinoblue’s absence Mags Mullins’ A Snow White Park (8-11 favourite) brought up her hat-trick in the T.A. Morris Memorial Irish EBF Mares Chase.

Danny Mullins bounced her out and she never saw another rival, scoring by two and a quarter lengths from Bynx.

“She is a dinger over a fence and while she isn’t a giant, she is plenty big enough and is plucky out. I’m delighted with her,” said Mags Mullins.

“Everyone said that we were home and hosed but it’s not as easy as that as you still have to go out and do it. Danny was delighted with her and it is great for her owners Molly and Paul Willis, and Jimmy Fyffe, who is new.

“She doesn’t want deep, winter ground and we’ll judge things as we go. She is declared over hurdles on Saturday, so we’ll see.”

Regarding Dinoblue’s absence, Patrick Mullins said: “JP (McManus, owner) felt we didn’t need to take a chance in running Dinoblue and obviously all roads lead to Cheltenham with her, so there is no major rush to get her out.

“It has been an abnormally dry summer and autumn and as my grandfather (Paddy Mullins) would say, ‘you can wait a month for ground or a year for a leg.’ At this stage of the season, there isn’t any point in taking a chance so if you’re in doubt, pull out.”