Clonmel Oil Chase Runners 2026: Il Etait Temps heads the four horses bidding for Grade 2 glory
Four runners have been declared for the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase on Thursday. Last year's winner Il Etait Temps returns as the Queen Mother Champion Chase hero. He bids to defend his crown, with stablemate Kappa Jy Pyke the main danger and Blaze The Way and Herja completing the field. Firefox, Ile Atlantique, Champ Kiely, Croke Park and Lecky Watson were among the entries but do not run. We assess all four runners.
Clonmel Oil Chase 2026: Key Race Details
- Race: Clonmel Oil Chase (Grade 2)
- Course: Clonmel Racecourse, Powerstown Park, Co Tipperary
- Date: Thursday 5 November 2026
- Time: 3:10pm (same time in the UK and Ireland)
- Distance: 2m4f 171y
- Field: 4 runners, aged four and up
- Prize money: €42,000 to the winner
- Going: Yielding
Clonmel Oil Chase Runners 2026: Full Field
| No. | Horse | Age | Trainer | Jockey | Weight | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Il Etait Temps | 8 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend | 11-12 | 11F11- |
| 2 | Kappa Jy Pyke | 6 | Willie Mullins | Danny Mullins | 11-2 | /1127- |
| 3 | Blaze The Way | 8 | Margaret Mullins | J J Slevin | 10-13 | 157P-0 |
| 4 | Herja | 6 | Mrs P Griffin | Harry Sexton | 10-6 | 262313 |
Clonmel Oil Chase 2026 Leading Contenders
Il Etait Temps (Willie Mullins / Paul Townend)
The reigning two-mile champion and the one they all have to beat. Il Etait Temps won this race 12 months ago, travelling strongly and winning easily on soft ground. That opened a brilliant campaign. He won the Tingle Creek, fell two out in the Clarence House, then landed the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and the Champion Chase at Punchestown. Form figures of 11F11 tell the story. He carries top weight of 11-12 and is rated 174, well clear of his rivals. Paul Townend, who has ridden him in all of those races, keeps the ride.
Kappa Jy Pyke (Willie Mullins / Danny Mullins)
The youngest in the field at six, and the obvious danger. Kappa Jy Pyke won a Thurles beginners' chase and then a Grade 3 novice chase at Punchestown last winter. He followed that with a fine second in the Grade 1 WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse over two and a half miles, beaten 2¾ lengths. He was only seventh at the Punchestown Festival, but this trip looks ideal. He gets 10lb from Il Etait Temps, and Danny Mullins, who rode him in all four of those starts, is in the saddle again.
Clonmel Oil Chase 2026 Outsiders
Blaze The Way (Margaret Mullins / J J Slevin)
Blaze The Way's big day came at Cheltenham last December, when he won the Turners Handicap Chase comfortably. He has not managed to build on that, finishing seventh in the Ultima, pulling up in the Scottish Grand National and running tenth at Listowel in September. J J Slevin takes over from Danny Mullins, who rides Kappa Jy Pyke. He has plenty to find at this level.
Herja (Mrs P Griffin / Harry Sexton)
The six-year-old mare gets a handy weight of 10-6. Herja is in the form of her life with figures of 262313. She won a mares' beginners chase at Sligo in September and then ran a fine third in the Grade 2 Racing Post Chase at Down Royal on Saturday. This is a quick turnaround and a big step up, as she is rated 110 to Il Etait Temps' 174. Regular partner Harry Sexton keeps the ride.
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