Impaire Et Passe continued his love affair with Aintree when fending off both Gidleigh Park and Jango Baie in the opening EBC Group Manifesto Novices’ Chase.
A winner of a dramatic renewal of the Aintree Hurdle at this meeting twelve months ago, Impaire Et Passe was returning to Merseyside on the back of losing his unbeaten record over fences behind Ballyburn and Croke Park in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.
However, armed with first-time cheekpieces, the seven-year-old son of Diamond Boy bounced back to his best to claim a second Grade 1 win over fences following his victory in the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick in December.
Having jumped poorly at Leopardstown last time out, all eyes were on how Impaire Et Passe flew the first few fences in first-time cheekpieces, and after a fluent leap at the opening obstacle, signs looked good for those backers of the 9/4 second favourite.
Carrying the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Soued, Impaire Et Passe travelled strongly throughout and had plenty in reserve to see off Gidleigh Park and the fast-finishing Jango Baie up the run-in, ultimately scoring by a length and a quarter under Paul Townend.
"It was very good," said Mullins. "The extra half mile and the cheekpieces seemed to suit him, and I think the fast pace seemed to suit him as well, so everything went according to plan.
"It was a trouble-free round, and from my point in the stands, I didn't see any mistakes, so he did it well.
"Simon (Munir) and Isaac (Souede, owners) were very keen to have a team to come to Aintree (in preference to Cheltenham), so that suited me fine."
Townend added: "His jumping was really, really good. Even when I won on him earlier this season, he jumped brilliantly. He hit a flat spot that day, but he came alive and showed the spark out there today that he did as a novice hurdler when winning here and at Sandown.
"I was in front sooner than I wanted to be, but the last fence is a lot closer to the line here. The cheekpieces seem to be working well."
The Nicky Henderson-trained Arkle winner Jango Baie, who found himself boxed in by the winner turning for home, looks set for a step up in trip next season after staying on strongly in the closing stages.
"The other two hadn't gone to Cheltenham, so he did very, very well to come back like that and he's finished very strongly," said Henderson.
"I think we'll be starting over three miles next season. I had him in the three-miler here and tossed up between the two races - very difficult decision - tossing a coin.
"He'll be exciting over three miles - he's finished every time, he's coming home very strongly. He just hits a little bit of a flat spot, and then he's got a bit to do.
"At Cheltenham he was flat out all the way; he travelled today. That had to be a hard race at Cheltenham, and he's done very well to come back and run like that. We've just got to see as the week goes on - they've all been there. He's run really well, so I'm not panicking yet."
