Impaire Et Passe impresses on chasing debut at Fairyhouse

Impaire Et Passe got the job done smoothly enough on his debut over fences when justifying odds of 2-13 in the SIS Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse.

A multiple Grade One winner over smaller obstacles, including a Ballymore victory at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival and this year’s Aintree Hurdle, he was made to work a bit by stablemate O’Moore Park and Twoohthree.

However, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old responded well when asked to quicken up by Paul Townend and had already taken control of proceedings when that pair both fell at the last, leaving Impaire Et Passe to come home 12 lengths clear of Staffordshire Knot.

“He was class. He jumped brilliant, he got a bit lackadaisical in the middle of it but when I opened him up at the back of the second-last, he took off,” said Townend.

“He had a great jump at the last and did everything I wanted him to do. He stood off when I wanted him and was good at getting in. I’m very happy.

“He was quick over the first couple and popped away when I wanted him then. When I lit him up at the back of the second-last, he took off.

“He went to sleep on me after jumping the two out of Ballyhack and I was happy enough not to light him up that far out.

“I was hoping when I did he would come alive and he did – mustard.”