I think 9/2 about Il Etait Temps (IET) is still very fair. The post race DRF script was all about FV disappointing, not about IET excelling. Understandable, given FV's reputation and it was a complete flop, but I think thats meant IET has gone under the radar. Using RPR's as a guide he's run to 134, 145 and now 158. 158 is really quite high and if you lift FV out the race he's beaten both Inthepocket and Dark Raven by 9 lengths - both of those went into the race unbeaten, so the form has real shape to it. I don't think we can take a form line through Irish Point literally because he looked like he was never put into the race, but I don't think Marine Nationale should be shorter than IET, no way in fact. IET feels like a rapidly improving 5 year old thats doing what a lot of these Mullins French recruits do and thats improve. We know IET handles Cheltenham which is a tick in the box that you can't put next to most his rivals and I think all things considered, the price is fair given the level he's run to and the fact he's trained by Willie. I'm not convinced we'll necessarily see FV in March and even if we did, connections of other horses will know that letting FV dictate a steadier pace from the front and quicken is handing him the race, so horses like HD will go and go hard, and we know that will suit IET. His achilles heel is his jumping and he can be messy, I think thats fair and its the only thing putting me off going in on him more than I already have!
