There is no pressure on Willie Mullins’ Energumene to run again this term after he was pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival.
The 11-year-old was returning to the meeting in a bid to reclaim his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown, a title he gained by wide margins in both 2022 and 2023.
He missed the 2024 meeting due to a setback that left him off the track for nearly 600 days, but his comeback in the Hilly Way at Cork in December suggested his old ability was still intact, as he looked to have the measure of subsequent King George winner Banbridge when Joseph O’Brien’s charge unseated at the last.
Next time out he was the runner-up behind Jonbon in the Clarence House at Ascot, a run that led into the Cheltenham Festival where he started a 6-1 chance to strike again Wednesday’s feature race.
He made the running in a field of eight and looked to have every chance over the third fence from home, but from there his progress stalled and he was eventually pulled up by Paul Townend.
After being assessed by the vet he was found to be suffering from a sore shin, but soon he was trotting up sound and he remains that way having travelled back to Closutton.
“He was pulled up and he seemed quite distressed, Paul felt that he’d lost his action a bit. We were a bit concerned and we had the vet check him over, he got quite a bad knock to his shin,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to owner Tony Bloom.
“He trotted up sound the following day and he seems fine, but they will just keep an eye on him over the next few weeks.
“We’ve no idea at this stage if he’ll run at Punchestown, we haven’t even thought about that yet so we’ll just give him time to recover.”
Though he is in the latter stages of his career as an 11-year-old, should he bounce back from Cheltenham with his usual enthusiasm then retirement is not imminent.
“He comes first, if he does live to fight another day this season then that would be brilliant, but if not the horse owes us nothing,” Graham added.
“He was still a 6-1 chance to win the race (at Cheltenham), so if he’s fit and healthy enough then why not bring him back as a 12-year-old?
“Captain Guinness was there as a 12-year-old and he was placed, there’s no need to end a horse’s career just for the sake of it.
“If he’s happy and healthy and is still enjoying it then there’s no reason not to keep him in training.”
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Energumene has already thrived twice at the Cheltenham Festival and his team are now willing the weather gods to play their part as he strives to become just the second three-time winner of the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Willie Mullins had never won the two-mile championship until Energumene turned the tables on his Ascot conqueror, the misfiring Shishkin in 2022, and despite defeat in his Festival tune-up the following year, he roared to back-to-back triumphs when 10 lengths clear of Captain Guinness.
Injury curtailed the chance of a Champion Chase hat-trick in 2024, but he is back for a belated treble bid 12 months later, where his ageing legs will attempt to replicate the achievements of Badsworth Boy in the 1980s.
Owned by Brighton & Hove Albion chief Tony Bloom, Energumene again fell victim to a Nicky Henderson superstar in this year’s Clarence House Chase when playing second fiddle to Jonbon.
However, history has taught punters not to underestimate Energumene at Prestbury Park, with connections imploring the weather forecasters to change their minds and predict a deluge to ensure favoured soft ground.
Jubilant scenes for Paul Townend and Energumene (Andrew Matthews/PA)
“He’s been fine since Ascot and his training has been going well, but he’s an 11-year-old and the weather forecast is probably not in our favour,” said Sean Graham, Bloom’s racing manager.
“We really want a few showers and the ground on the soft side to have a real chance, but there is no doubt he’s in good form and Willie has been happy with him and he will go over there to take his chance.
“I don’t think this horse has always got the credit he deserves and they always mention how Shishkin was pulled up when he won his first and the race fell apart again a year later, but you can only beat what is put in front of you.”
Not only is Jonbon standing in Energumene’s way once again, but the trends are also against him – as not since Moscow Flyer in 2005 has an 11-year-old obliged, with the only other winner of that age being Skymas in 1976, although Brian Lusk’s charge did follow up at 12 the next season.
“Many, many good horses have won the Champion Chase and Badsworth Boy is the only one to win three of them and that shows you how tough it is,” continued Graham.
“Father Time is probably against him, but he’s relatively lightly raced and has only had 17 runs – he hasn’t had a hard life.
“Before Moscow Flyer, you have to go back to Skymas for the last 11-year-old to win it. But I think conditions will play a huge part, as the drier the ground, the better the chance Jonbon will have, but the wetter it gets, I think there will be a few who will fancy their chances against him.”
Tony Bloom, alongside the Queen, after being presented with the trophy following victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Energumene (Mike Egerton/PA)
Energumene could be the ace in Bloom’s select Festival team, but the Premier League chairman – who during his poker playing days was nicknamed ‘The Lizard’ – could have a trump card to play in the handicaps in Bunting.
Like Energumene, he is trained by Mullins and the five-year-old, who has been seen just once this season, has attracted plenty of support in the County Hurdle market over the last few days after Ruby Walsh mentioned his credentials on TV.
Graham added: “He’s entered in three of the handicaps, I spoke to Willie and he said he was half-favouring the County but no firm decision had been made yet.
“He was a bit unlucky in his only outing this year at Clonmel. He made a really bad mistake but got back into the race and then I think a lack of race fitness told against him at the finish.
“These four-year-olds turning five often struggle this year and to go to the Festival and win is a big ask, the handicapper just always seems to be hard on them. Unless you are absolutely top class, the only races for you are the handicaps and there never seems to be any respite from the handicapper.
“He’s in good form and is working well and has a chance, but there is probably going to be 10 more in the County Hurdle better handicapped than Bunting, I would have thought.
“There will be a few laid out for the race who might have a few pounds up their sleeve, but he will be going there fit and well.”
Poniros (centre) in action on the Flat at Newbury (Steven Paston/PA)
There is a potential wildcard who could play his way into Bloom’s Festival hand in Poniros, a handy recruit off the Flat.
He holds an entry in the Triumph Hurdle, with connections not afraid of seeing the one-time Royal Ascot hope make his jumping debut in the Gold Cup day Grade One if he keeps pleasing the key figures at Closutton.
Graham said: “Poniros might go and he’s one of those horses – Willie has four or five of them that haven’t run over hurdles yet but have an entry in the Triumph – that has a chance of running in the race.
“It would be aiming high on his first run but it will be a good experience for the horse and if he runs OK, then the temptation will be to keep him to the Flat this summer and as a novice over hurdles for next season.”
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Jonbon ground Energumene into submission to land another fantastic triumph in the BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot.
Nico de Boinville was positive from the outset and soon established an advantage at the head of affairs on the 8-13 favourite.
There was a point in the race where Nicky Henderson’s charge was not so fluent at the fences and that allowed Paul Townend to close up on Energumene entering the home straight.
However, Jonbon kicked again and got his act together in the jumping department when it mattered most, galloping on strongly to prevail by six and a half lengths.
The JP McManus-owned nine-year-old made it 17 wins from 20 races under rules and strengthened his position as favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
William Hill now go 5-4 about Jonbon’s Cheltenham chances and while Henderson is not banking on a repeat in March, he felt the victory over a dual Champion Chase winner in Energumene was a perfect prep for the Festival.
He said: “It was always going to be a big match, two heavyweights fighting for a title.
“It was not the Champion Chase today, but that was for the right to head to Cheltenham as the one to beat and probable favourite.
“Energumene has been a very good horse over the years and he might be getting older, but he is still a very good horse and it was a nice, clean fight really.
Nicky Henderson and jockey Nico de Boinville with the trophy after winning the BetMGM Clarence House Chase (Steven Paston/PA)
“Jonbon is still quite young and he’s very professional now and his jumping is just so slick. I just loved the way he quickened up going to the last, he fought off the enemy and still wanted to make a good show of it and that was great.
“I think we were waiting for a bit of cat and mouse early on and to see who was going to make it. They are both natural front runners and Nico quite rightly grabbed hold of it and said ‘we’re off’. He said he was really fresh and there wasn’t much else he could do, Jonbon wanted to make it and that was that.
“You thought Energumene was going to come there and I think Nico was having a little bit of a play and maybe encouraging him to come there as he needed to fill up (the lungs). You know once you’ve put petrol in the tank, you will get home and the way he quickened up was the most impressive thing – he was gone.”
The Willie Mullins-trained Energumene shared an epic battle with Henderson’s Shishkin in this race in 2022, with the Seven Barrows runner rallying to a famous one-length victory after the Irish raider looked to have sealed victory.
While Energumene might not be quite the force of old, Henderson is all too aware of Mullins’ strength in depth, with Gaelic Warrior and El Fabiolo also to the fore in the Cheltenham betting.
He added: “It was the other way round to the Shishkin race and Energumene went on that day and looked to have us beat two out and then stamina came into play. Shishkin was always a stayer and should have won a King George and was a very good horse.
“That’s the second time against Energumene and where he goes now, I’m not sure, but Willie has a horsebox full of them to take us on in March. That’s not the end of Willie Mullins and the Champion Chase, that’s what you can be sure of.
“I think that is nine Grade Ones now for Jonbon and that takes a bit of doing, so we have to appreciate him, he’s been a great hero for Seven Barrows. We’re very lucky and we just mind them the best we can and enjoy him the best we can.”
Jonbon in the Ascot winner’s enclosure (Steven Paston/PA)
De Boinville revealed his race plan was focussed solely on Jonbon, rather than riding to beat Energumene.
He said: “They’ve done a tremendous job with him at home and I only ever school him, I don’t get on him any other time.
“The race went really smoothly and I felt like we were only doing a half-speed, but I think we were trapping along really. It was always the plan (to go forward) and I was aware horses can get caught late on here, so I just kept nudging him out to the line. I honestly just rode my own race today and if Energumene was good enough, then he was good enough.
“He’s a fantastic horse and he was good at the last – it might have made a nice picture!”
Sean Graham, racing manager to Energumene’s owner Tony Bloom, felt the good ground at Ascot had favoured Jonbon and conditions could now be key to future targets.
Energumene (blue colours) had to settle for second (Steven Paston/PA)
He said: “Paul just said on that ground Jonbon had too much speed for him and the race probably didn’t pan out in a way that suited us.
“He got alongside them four out and Jonbon just picked up and went away from them. On that ground, we’re going to struggle. Our fella is 11 and Jonbon is a nine-year-old reaching his peak.
“We probably just need to pick our battles and that might mean very soft ground. There will be no decision made on the Champion Chase yet and that will be left to Willie and Paul and we’ll go along with whatever they decide. But certainly if the ground came up heavy like it did at Cheltenham last year, you would maybe have a pop.
“I don’t want to put anyone wrong or put anyone off, but Willie and Paul will make the decision.
“He’s bounced back from defeat in this race before and when we were stood in this position after the defeat to Shishkin, I turned round and said ‘how do we turn that around at Cheltenham?’.
“He did and then he was even more disappointing when he got beat in the Clarence House at Cheltenham (when third in 2023) and went and won the Champion Chase again that year, so the horse keeps surprising us. So he might surprise us again.”
Townend added: “He ran well, but wasn’t good enough today. Cheltenham is a different place.”
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Energumene will not “lie down for Jonbon” when he bids to finally get his hands on the BetMGM Clarence House Chase trophy in an all-star showdown at Ascot.
The two-mile Grade One is a familiar port of call for Willie Mullins’ dual Champion Chase hero – but despite playing a leading role in two thrilling renewals, he has yet to come out on top.
Few will forget his titanic tussle with Shishkin at Ascot in 2022 and, while there will be another Nicky Henderson-trained powerhouse standing in his way on Saturday, it was Alan King’s reopposing Edwardstone who was battling for supremacy when both ultimately lost out to Editeur Du Gite at Cheltenham in 2023.
Energumene in action in the 2023 Clarence House Chase when run at Cheltenham (Mike Egerton/PA)
Injury kept Energumene off the track for the whole of the 2023-24 season, but he proved his ability is still very much there when making a winning return in his usual Cork starting point, an effort all the more meritorious given the subsequent achievements of final-fence casualty Banbridge.
However, dreams of the 11-year-old getting his preferred soft ground this weekend are unlikely to come to fruition, with a dry forecast anticipated.
“The horse has come out of the Hilly Way Chase in great form and we’re just hoping we get a drop of rain before the race, even though the weather forecast seems to suggest not, sadly,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to owner Tony Bloom.
“I’d say the wetter the ground, the better the chance we would have – and the drier things get, it increases Jonbon’s chances.
“Energumene came out and won after nearly 600 days off the track at Cork and Paul (Townend) was very complimentary about him afterwards. He said he still maintained all his enthusiasm and jumped well in front.
“Banbridge might have given him a race if standing up at Cork, but he’s then gone on and won a King George. I know Energumene was getting 10lb from Banbridge that day, but he showed plenty of sparkle and he certainly isn’t going to lie down for Jonbon – we’ll put it up to him and hopefully make a race of it.”
Victory would tee Energumene up superbly for the chance to emulate Badsworth Boy and become only the second horse to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase on three occasions.
In the meantime, his team are more than happy to play their part in a mouthwatering contest en route to Prestbury Park in the spring.
Energumene has been a star performer for connections (Tim Goode/PA)
Graham continued: “These races are great and it will hopefully give people an appetite for what’s coming at Cheltenham in March. It would be very easy to wrap him up in cotton wool, but that’s not what it’s about and we want to get him out on track.
“He’s an 11-year-old now and we’re probably running out of the number of days we can enjoy with him, so we want to take part and enjoy it.”
Jonbon will also be attempting to erase Clarence House demons after a poor round of jumping saw him narrowly defeated as the 1-4 favourite when the race again took place at Cheltenham 12 months ago.
That is one of just two blemishes on his stellar chasing CV and having looked as deadly as ever in the Tingle Creek prior to Christmas, he is ready to tackle Ascot for the first time since his novice hurdling days.
Jonbon has excelled over fences (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA)
Henderson said: “He has had the one run round Ascot when he won the Kennel Gate. I don’t think left or right makes any difference to him. He loves Sandown, which is right-handed with a fair few undulations in it, so I can’t see why Ascot wouldn’t be suitable. I would hope he would enjoy it.
“Energumene was impressive on his comeback run a few weeks ago. The interesting thing there is that Jonbon’s very happy up there, they could be going a right good gallop, it could be an attacking game.”
Jonbon has the chance to give Henderson a record-extending seventh win in the Ascot showpiece and his first since Shishkin had Energumene’s number in 2022.
Remembering that toe-to-toe contest, he continued: “That was one of the great races of all-time, it was billed as that and it lived up to that, which was terrific.
“Well, it was terrific for us, I don’t think Willie enjoyed it as much as we did! It was going their way and then it came back to go our way at the end.”
Seven Barrows greats Sprinter Sacre and Altior are others on the race’s roll of honour, with Jonbon fitting of joining those illustrious names having now won 11 of his 13 chasing starts.
“We’ve been very lucky, these two-milers have joined in one after the other – Sprinter Sacre, Altior, Shishkin and then Jonbon – they’ve slotted in nicely,” said Henderson.
“You wouldn’t have wanted them all at the same time – well, you wouldn’t have minded. We’re just very lucky that they came into our lives.
“They all had their own temperaments. Shishkin had his own quirks, he was a character, we loved him. Altior was probably the most straightforward, and Sprinter was just something else. In the first part of his career, he was virtually unbeatable, he was a brilliant horse.”
Alan King’s aforementioned veteran Edwardstone and the Harry Fry-trained course and distance scorer Boothill complete the quartet of runners.
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Nicky Henderson is counting down to the “mega clash” between Jonbon and Energumene in the BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday after the two chief protagonists headlined the four declarations on Thursday.
The Grade One is the centrepiece of the Berkshire Winter Million, with meetings at Windsor on Friday and Sunday either side of it for the first time this year.
While some may be disappointed with the small field size, only four went to post in 2022 when Willie Mullins’ dual Champion Chase hero Energumene came over for his first crack at the race.
Racegoers were treated to an epic battle, with Henderson’s Shishkin just coming out on top and the Seven Barrows handler is hoping Jonbon can repeat the trick in what could be a mouthwatering event.
Henderson told Racing TV: “If you go back to the Energumene and Shishkin day it was built up as something special and it was, it was a real belter of a race, one for the history books, just a great race.
“Now good old Energumene, and we know how good he is, he is back again. We’ve had to change the batting and dear old Shishkin – he never was actually a two-miler at the end of the day, I learned that that day even though he won – but Jonbon is a two-miler so it is going to be interesting.”
Owned by Brighton & Hove Albion’s Tony Bloom, Energumene is now 11 but showed the fire still burns brightly when winning the Hilly Way on his return from almost 600 days off.
Energumene has twice won the Queen Mother Champion Chase (Mike Egerton/PA)
Meanwhile, Jonbon’s record stands up to the closest scrutiny, as he has won 11 of 13 races over fences with his only defeats coming in the Arkle behind El Fabiolo and in this race 12 months ago when it was rearranged for Cheltenham and jumping errors cost him.
He was immaculate in winning the Tingle Creek by eight lengths and is favourite to win another Grade One and Henderson is predicting a “fascinating” contest with regular foes Alan King’s Edwarstone and Harry Fry’s Boothill also engaged.
“It will be a fascinating race and you can’t forget the others too, they are also very good horses. So we look forward to it,” continued the Seven Barrows handler.
Jonbon had Boothill and Edwardstone behind him in the Shloer (David Davies/PA)
“Willie and I have had a couple of scraps over Christmas and we’re very much still talking but we owe him a few after last year and a few other days. It’s him and I again and he will be trying to get his own back.
“Paddy (Murphy) who rides Jonbon every day is very happy and Nico (de Boinville) jumped five fences on him on Tuesday and he was very happy and we think we are where we need to be for a mega clash.”
Another highlight on the card is the British debut of Jonbon’s stablemate Lulamba in the BetMGM Juvenile Hurdle.
His price collapsed last week for the Triumph Hurdle ahead of his anticipated debut at Kempton and he faces six rivals on this occasion.
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Jonbon and Energumene will be joined by Boothill and Edwardstone in a fascinating BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday.
The Grade One is the centrepiece of the Berkshire Winter Million, with meetings at Windsor on Friday and Sunday either side of it for the first time this year.
While some may be disappointed with the small field size, only four went to post in 2022 when Willie Mullins’ dual Champion Chase hero Energumene came over for his first crack at the race.
Racegoers were treated to an epic battle, with Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin just coming out on top and the Seven Barrows handler will be hoping Jonbon can repeat the trick.
Energumene is now 11 but showed the fire still burns brightly when winning the Hilly Way on his return from almost 600 days off.
Jonbon’s record stands up to the closest scrutiny, as he has won 11 of 13 races over fences with his only defeats coming in the Arkle behind El Fabiolo and in this race 12 months ago when it was rearranged for Cheltenham and jumping errors cost him.
He was immaculate in winning the Tingle Creek by eight lengths and is favourite to win another Grade One.
Jonbon had Boothill and Edwardstone behind him in the Shloer (David Davies/PA)
Edwardstone and Boothill have something to find on the figures but were not that far behind Jonbon in the Shloer Chase.
There was one notable absentee, with Evan Williams deciding the ground was too quick for his Libberty Hunter. Unexpected Party was also not declared.
Another highlight on the card is the British debut of Jonbon’s stablemate Lulamba in the BetMGM Juvenile Hurdle.
His price collapsed last week for the Triumph Hurdle ahead of his anticipated debut at Kempton and he faces six rivals on this occasion.
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Paul Townend and Nico de Boinville are relishing another big-race clash in the BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday.
It is three years since the leading riders went head-to-head in a highly-anticipated renewal of the Grade One contest, with De Boinville and Shishkin narrowly outpointing the Townend-ridden Energumene in a race that lived up to its billing and then some.
Dual Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Energumene has suffered only two defeats in 13 starts over fences and both have come in the Clarence House, having also finished a disappointing third behind Editeur Du Gite and Edwardstone in a rearranged running at Cheltenham in 2023.
The Willie Mullins-trained 11-year-year-old missed the entirety of last season through injury, but proved the fire still burns brightly on his return in last month’s Hilly Way at Cork and Townend is hopeful he can make it third time lucky in this weekend’s feature event.
“He came out of Cork well and I’m looking forward to another crack at Nico and hopefully we’ll get the better of him,” said Townend, speaking at Clonmel on Wednesday.
“Every day you get to ride him is a good day and he seems to be fine since Cork.”
On the same card the six-time champion jockey is set to partner the returning Kargese in the Grade Two BetMGM Mares’ Hurdle.
Kargese and Paul Townend after winning at last season’s Punchestown (Brian Lawless/PA)
The five-year-old will be a warm order on her first competitive appearance since winning the juvenile Grade One at the Punchestown Festival in May last year.
“Travelling for her first run of the season isn’t ideal, as Willie always says, but she’s strengthened up massively and is ready to go,” Townend added.
De Boinville has two Clarence House Chase victories on his illustrious CV, with Shishkin’s triumph preceded by the dominant success of the brilliant Altior in 2019.
This weekend he will be on board another Nicky Henderson star in Jonbon, who is fresh from making it back-to-back wins in the Tingle Creek at Sandown and is gunning for a ninth top-level victory.
Nico de Boinville celebrates after winning the Tingle Creek with Jonbon (David Davies for The Jockey Club)
Speaking before racing at Newbury, De Boinville told Sky Sports Racing: “We take on Energumene and all the other old characters that seem to be turning up in these races. Hopefully it will be a good contest and it should put a few bums on seats as well.
“You don’t know which Energumene is going to turn up. He’s getting on as well, not that Jonbon is – we’re taking him on with a younger rival.
“It was a great day back then (with Shishkin), but Saturday is another race and we’ll take it as such.
“I think Jonbon is a horse that thrives on his racing and he’s come out of Sandown really well. This has always been the plan and sets us up nicely.”
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Jonbon and Energumene are on course to meet in what Nicky Henderson anticipates will be a “big battle” for the BetMGM Clarence House Chase crown at Ascot on Saturday.
Henderson’s Jonbon is looking to cement his position at the head of the betting for the Champion Chase at Cheltenham by adding to his already impressive haul of Grade One victories.
In 19 career starts for the Seven Barrows team he has won 16, with his only defeats coming against Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, El Fabiolo in the Arkle and Elixir De Nutz in this race when it was rearranged for Cheltenham last season, when he almost fell on more than one occasion.
Jonbon was impressive in the Tingle Creek (David Davies/PA)
It will be the first meeting between Jonbon and the Willie Mullins-trained Energumene, who won the Champion Chase in both 2022 and 2023 but was sidelined for the entirety of last season before making a winning return at Cork last month.
Henderson and Mullins are treading familiar ground in their clash of stars, with Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth having lined up for the pair respectively in a Christmas Hurdle that proved to be one of the highlights of the festive period.
Henderson said: “This could be a big battle and it’s great for the game. Just like over Christmas, high-class horses taking on high-class horses. I hope it’s a race that people can look forward to, it should get pretty star billing.
“We’re looking forward to it and it’s all systems go. In the Tingle Creek the other day the crowd really got behind him, which is nice. He deserves it. He’s been playing at the top table for quite a while now, he used to be the young buck coming in.”
Energumene is no stranger to Ascot’s Clarence House Chase, as Willie Mullins sent him over from Closutton for it in 2022 when he went head-to-head with another Seven Barrows superstar, the late Shishkin.
The race has been remembered as one of the best at Ascot in recent years, with Energumene going down by a length as Shishkin’s famous late surge proved too much for him.
Revenge awaited at Cheltenham, though, as with Shishkin pulled up early, Energumene won his first Champion Chase with ease
Henderson recalled: “That was one of the great races of all-time, it was billed as that and it lived up to that, which was terrific. Well, it was terrific for us, I don’t think Willie enjoyed it as much as we did! It was going their way and then it came back to go our way at the end.
“Energumene was impressive on his comeback run a few weeks ago, so it looks as if we’re going to have a re-do, but it will be Jonbon who’s going to have to do battle with him.
“The interesting thing there is that Jonbon’s very happy up there (with the pace), they could be going a right good gallop, it could be an attacking game! This could be brewing up for another historic renewal.”
Old rivals Edwardstone (Alan King) and Boothill (Harry Fry) are also in the mix, while a fascinating potential runner is Evan Williams’ Libberty Hunter.
The nine-year-old was second in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham and then third in Grade One novice company at Aintree, but looked an improved horse when easily winning on his comeback.
Dan Skelton’s Grand Annual winner Unexpected Party completes the list of six possibles.
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Connections of Energumene “will not hide” from an all-star clash with Jonbon at Ascot later this month, with the BetMGM Clarence House Chase likely to be next for the dual Champion Chase hero.
Having taken advantage of a misfiring Shishkin when romping to his first Champion Chase in 2022, Willie Mullins’ only winner of the Cheltenham Festival’s day-two feature returned in peak condition to defend his crown a year later, demolishing the opposition, with the reigning champion chaser Captain Guinness 10 lengths adrift in second.
Injury denied him the chance to become just the second horse to win three Champion Chases, as he spent the whole of the 2023-24 campaign on the sidelines. But he made a thrilling return from 593 days off when reappearing in his traditional starting point, Cork’s Hilly Way Chase, where it looked like he had got the better of subsequent King George hero Banbridge when he unseated at the last.
Energumene has previously followed a pre-Christmas outing at Cork with a Cheltenham tune-up in the Clarence House and usual service is set to be resumed on January 18.
Owned by Brighton & Hove Albion supremo Tony Bloom, few can forget Energumene’s titanic showdown with the aforementioned Shishkin in the Grade One event three years ago, with the duo separated by just a length following a battle for supremacy up the Ascot straight.
The 11-year-old now appears set to meet another standout performer from Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows string, with the race nominated as Jonbon’s next port of call en route to the Champion Chase – and the Energumene team are keen to take up the challenge, providing conditions are suitable.
“I spoke to Willie just before the Christmas period and he said he was fine and came out of the Hilly Way in great form,” said Sean Graham, Bloom’s racing manager.
“Banbridge has gone and franked that form a bit by winning a King George, but Willie has also pointed out Dinoblue (10 lengths second) didn’t run so well after that – so you could say one line of form says it’s been franked and another says it hasn’t.
Energumene has twice won the Champion Chase (Mike Egerton/PA)
“He’s in great form and we just hope the ground turns up soft at Ascot, as the softer the better for him.
“We certainly will not hide from the race and if conditions are right and the ground is soft and not too quick, then that is the race we are aiming for. I haven’t heard anything different since speaking to Willie, so I assume it is the same.”
Despite the Clarence House potentially seeing two of the Champion Chase’s leading players going toe-to-toe, there will be half an eye looking ahead to March, with the main objective for Energumene being to arrive at the Cheltenham Festival with a clean bill of health.
At Prestbury Park he will have the opportunity to replicate the exploits of Badsworth Boy, who is the only horse to win the Champion Chase on three occasions, and finds himself a general 5-1 with the layers following his Cork return.
Only Jonbon and stablemate Gaelic Warrior are ahead of him in the betting for the the two-mile championship and connections are holding out hope for their preferred underfoot conditions ahead of his long-awaited hat-trick bid in the Cotswolds.
“Before he ran in the Hilly Way he was 12-1 to win the Champion Chase and now he is around 5-1,” continued Graham.
Badsworth Boy returns under Robert Earnshaw following his third Queen Mother Champion Chase victory (PA)
“He’s going to be 11 come March and the last 11-year-old to win the Champion Chase was Moscow Flyer and before that you have to go back to Skymas in the 1970s.
“They are the last two 11-year-olds to win the race and it is a big ask, but if the ground comes up soft on the Wednesday at Cheltenham, and I mean proper soft ground, then I wouldn’t swap him for anything.
“Badsworth Boy is the only horse to win three Champion Chases and when you look at all the great horses who have contested that race over the years and all the superstars, if Energumene was to go and win in March then he would be the first for a long time to win three of them.
“That shows how much of a big ask it is, but we are looking to get him there in one piece and have a good crack at it anyway.”
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Energumene is reported to have taken his comeback success at Cork well and will be aimed next at the Clarence House Chase at Ascot.
The 10-year-old is a top-class performer whose record includes six Grade One triumphs, among them two successes in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and two in the Champion Chase at Punchestown.
He could not defend either title last season due to an injury which ruled him out of the whole campaign, but after being patiently rehabilitated he returned to action at Navan on Sunday in the Grade Two Hilly Way Chase.
The race is a familiar starting point for the Willie Mullins-trained gelding, who had kicked off his season there twice in the past and both times was a wide-margin winner.
After 593 days out of action he lined up last weekend under Paul Townend, taking his place in a field of eight as the 5-4 favourite.
He took up the lead after two fences before a smooth passage around the track, and while Banbridge may have had tabs on him before unseating at the last, Energumene always looked to be in control.
The winning margin was 10 lengths as the rest of the field finished well strung out behind him, and happily he has taken it well.
“He’s absolutely fine after the race and now we will look at the Clarence House, Christmas will just come too soon,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to owner Tony Bloom.
“He hit the third-last, but apart from that he did it really, really well. He still retains all of his old enthusiasm, which is great.
“The race was important enough to us, but the bigger issue was whether he’d be sound the next day and thankfully he’s fine.”
The Clarence House – in which he memorably clashed with Shishkin in 2022 – is the target now, after which he is to be aimed at a third Queen Mother Champion Chase with connections hoping the March ground will be suitably soft.
Energumene with Paul Townend and Willie Mullins (right) after winning the Hilly Way Chase at Cork (Thomas Weekes/PA)
“It will probably be the Clarence House and then straight to Cheltenham,” said Graham.
“At his age – he’s going to be 11 – we’re going to want the ground to be soft, if not heavy, in the Champion Chase to give us a real chance.
“The younger horses might have too much pace for us if the ground was good, if it was very quick we probably wouldn’t run him.
“I know there are so few options, but at the same time the horse will always come first and his welfare will always come first.”
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A day after Jonbon strutted his stuff at Sandown, Energumene proved his considerable ability remains very much intact with a successful return from 20 months on the sidelines in the Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase at Cork.
The Willie Mullins-trained 10-year-old claimed this Grade Two prize in both 2021 and 2022, kicking off campaigns which both featured victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
He missed the entirety of last season through injury, though, meaning his returned to Cork marked his first competitive outing since winning at the Punchestown Festival in the spring of 2023.
Despite his lengthy absence, Energumene was a 5-4 favourite to make it a Hilly Way hat-trick under Paul Townend and he jumped accurately on front end throughout.
The race-fit Banbridge was the only one able to go with him in the straight, but he just looked to be coming off second-best when unseating Richie Deegan at the final fence.
His exit left Energumene clear of the remainder and he passed the post with 10 lengths in hand over stablemate Dinoblue, with Appreciate It and Blue Lord rounding off a Mullins one-two-three-four.
“That was a very exuberant display from him,” Mullins said.
“I thought Dinoblue would make more of the running, but Paul said his horse was just looking for fences to jump and wanted to go a better gallop, so he let him on instead of fighting him.
“I was very happy with how he jumped and he had been doing everything right since her came back in August. Hopefully he can keep going that way and it was a nice performance to build on for the season.”
Willie Mullins was delighted with Energumene’s comeback victory (Damian Eagers/PA)
Coral cut Energumene’s odds to land a third Champion Chase to 5-1 from 8-1, with Nicky Henderson’s dual Tingle Creek hero Jonbon their 5-2 favourite and another Mullins inmate, Gaelic Warrior, splitting the pair at 100-30.
Energumene memorably came off second-best in a titanic clash with Shishkin in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot in January 2022 and whether he will head back to Berkshire for a possible clash with Shishkin’s stablemate Jonbon next month remains to be seen.
“He didn’t look like he needed the run, galloped the whole way to the line and had looked excellent since he came in,” the champion trainer added.
“Normally we skip Christmas (with his Hilly Way Chase winners) and the Clarence House Chase was what we did previously, so we’ll see how he comes out of it before making any decision.”
Speaking on RTE Sport, Mullins said he was impressed with Jonbon: “He (Jonbon) put in a terrific round of jumping, it’s there to play for. We’ll give him competition, it’s one we’ll all look forward to whenever they meet. Hopefully we can keep them apart until Cheltenham.”
Mullins also had good news on the talented but fragile Ferny Hollow, who was in the process of running a decent race on his return to action before falling in the home straight.
He said: “I’m told Ferny Hollow is fine and the news back is that he is good and came home and I was very happy with how most of the rest ran.
“It was nice to get them out and started for the season so we’ll try to find opportunities for them.”
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Energumene makes his long-awaited return to action when he bids for a third success in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork on Sunday.
The Willie Mullins-trained 10-year-old claimed the Grade Two in both 2021 and 2022, but an injury saw him miss the whole of last season and he was last seen April 2023.
The winner of 12 of his 15 starts under rules, he is a dual Queen Mother Champion Chase hero at Cheltenham and a six-time Grade One victor for his owner, Brighton & Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom.
He has been ample given time to overcome his earlier setback, but happily has found recovery to be straightforward ahead of his comeback at Cork.
“Obviously it’s his first run back after a setback, but ever since he came back in off the grass in early August it’s been plain sailing,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to Bloom.
Energumene winning the 2023 Champion Chase (Mike Egerton/PA)
“Touch wood there have been no signs of the injury reoccurring and Willie has been able to do the proper prep he needs to get him to the track and have a fighting chance on Sunday.
“Obviously he’ll be a bit ring-rusty but we’ve had no hold ups or setbacks, fingers crossed he’ll run well and come back safe and sound – that’s all we really care about.
“The thing about Energumene is he hasn’t been over-raced, he might be 10 years old but there aren’t that many miles on the clock.
“Including his point to point he’s only had 16 starts, for 10 going on 11 that’s not a lot and it’s not been because of injuries and problems, we’ve just looked after him.
“We’ve always looked after him and only run him in the right races at the right time of year, we’re going to keep our fingers crossed he gets home safe and sound and he is sound on Monday morning – that’s the most important thing.”
Ferny Hollow adds an exciting dimension to the Hilly Way Chase (Niall Carson/PA)
An eight-strong field is also due to feature another star Mullins runner returning from the sidelines in the shape of Ferny Hollow, who is unbeaten over fences but has not run since February.
Paul Townend is scheduled to ride Energumene, with Patrick Mullins aboard Ferny Hollow.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/271388371-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-12-07 12:21:562024-12-07 12:21:56All eyes Energumene, as superstar chaser returns to the fray at Cork
Dual champion chaser Energumene is all set to return to action in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork next weekend.
The Willie Mullins-trained 10-year-old missed the whole of last season through injury and will be bidding for a third win in the feature race in Mallow.
Due to its position in the calendar, Mullins is then considering the Clarence House Chase – the contest in which Energuemene featured in one of the most memorable races of recent seasons when beaten by Shishkin in 2022.
“The Hilly Way always clashed with the John Durkan, but now you either run in the Hilly Way or you run at Christmas. It’s very tight and I’m wondering is there a question to move the whole meeting forward a week or so, it might benefit the Hilly Way, it might benefit Cork and it might benefit Irish racing,” said Mullins.
🔵⚪️ Energumene – a procession as he lands successive wins in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
“It just brings it into focus when you see the success of the John Durkan the other day. Energumene will probably miss Christmas and probably go for the Clarence House or the Dublin Racing Festival and on to Cheltenham, all being well.
“So far this year we’ve had no setbacks and we’re all set to go down to Mallow, or Cork as we call it now.”
Dinoblue also looks likely to return in the Hilly Way but El Fabiolo has had a setback and is unlikely to be out much before the Dublin Racing Festival, with Mullins considering him as a possible for the Ryanair this season.
Mullins expects his current champion hurdler State Man to take a step forward from a rare defeat in the Morgiana Hurdle last weekendc
“State Man ran a cracker. I was very happy where he was turning for home. He looked very big three weeks ago and I was worried I wouldn’t have him ready for the weekend,” he said.
Brighterdaysahead (far side) got the better of State Man in the Morgiana (Damien Eagers/PA)
“He probably went there a little heavy but like in the John Durkan, I thought all mine were a little bit backward. At the second last I was delighted that he was challenging and got in front, that will blow the cobwebs away and leave him right for Christmas, he’ll follow the same path as last year.”
Last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner Majborough is going chasing, despite his tender years.
“Majborough is going novice chasing. We’re caught between a rock and a hard place with him as a four-year-old turning five, so it was decided he would go novice chasing,” said Mullins.
“I said to JP (McManus, owner) the first day, he looked a fully-fledged chaser already as he was such a big and mature horse and I’m looking forward to seeing him over fences, even this young.
“I never mind if they start at two or two and a half miles but I think he’s going to be a two-miler but he might develop into a Gold Cup-type horse later in his career. He’s an exciting one but he’ll want a dig in the ground.”
One dark horse for the season is It’s For Me, a smart bumper performer two years ago who won on his hurdling debut from Caldwell Potter before being forced to miss the remainder of the season
Mullins said: “I’m really looking forward to getting him out over fences, he jumps well. His last form over hurdles was fantastic, his work at home was better after that and I’m just really looking forward to getting him out. He missed Christmas last year and the rest of the season but I think he’ll make into a real decent novice chaser.
Impaire Et Passe is another going novice chasing for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, making his debut on Saturday at Fairyhouse.
Last season’s Champion Bumper winner Jasmin De Vaux disappointed at Punchestown but looks another nice prospect for the ‘Double Green’ team
Grand National winner I Am Maximus will follow a tried-and-tested route back to Liverpool.
I Am Maximus has another Grand National in his sights (David Davies/PA)
“I Am Maximums will run at Christmas and do the same as last year I’d imagine, go for the Bobbyjo and then Aintree. I think it’s a good plan and it works for him,” said Mullins.
The unusually dry autumn has played havoc with Mullins’ team of novice chasers with a whole host waiting to come out, among them Dancing City.
“Dancing City won three Grade Ones last season and will go for a beginners’ chase,” said Mullins.
“We’re entering for all the Grade Ones at Christmas but we haven’t even got our novices out yet, so anything that runs in the next fortnight probably won’t make it as it’s going to be too soon to bring them back at Christmas.
“I hate them making a debut in a Grade One but three miles might be different. I’m not sure it’s a great idea though.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/271388780-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-11-28 15:02:012024-11-28 15:02:01Energumene poised for Hilly Way comeback
Superstar chaser Energumene has returned to training after missing the entirety of last season with a hind leg injury.
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding is a dual Cheltenham Festival winner, taking back-to-back renewals of the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2022 and 2023.
After both victories, he was sent next to the Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival to also claim that prize twice in succession, with his April 2023 victory there the last time he has been seen on a racecourse.
Twelve months ago it was announced the 10-year-old would miss the 2023-2024 season due to a hind leg problem, something he has been carefully rehabilitated from with a spell out at grass over the summer.
Paul Townend celebrates victory with Energumene at the Cheltenham Festival (David Davies for The Jockey Club)
He has now returned to the Mullins yard at Closutton and is cantering ahead of his comeback, although his training will be taken day by day and there is no fixed date for his reappearance.
Sean Graham, racing manager to owner Tony Bloom, said: “I spoke to Willie last week, the horse has had a long rest and over the summer he was out at grass for a few months.
“He came back in from grass in early August and he’s had four or five weeks of going on the walker every day.
“Since then, he’s been cantering every day for the last month and he’s been fine.
“He’s a 10-year-old now, so we’re just going to take one day at a time with him, but touch wood, everything’s 100 per cent.”
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Energumene is recovering well from the injury that curtailed a Champion Chase hat-trick bid, with connections determined to return the dual Cheltenham Festival hero to the racecourse this winter.
Owned by Brighton chief Tony Bloom, the former king of the two-mile chasing division was denied the chance to become a three-time winner at National Hunt racing’s showpiece event when suffering a leg injury last autumn which ruled him out of the whole 2023-24 campaign.
However, there are positive signs from Closutton, with the 10-year-old – who has won 12 of his 15 career starts – enjoying some time at grass before the tune-up process ahead of the new season begins later in the summer.
Jockey Paul Townend celebrates on Energumene after winning the Champion Chase (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)
“I bumped into Willie at Royal Ascot and Energumene has been out on grass since June 12, which is a great sign,” said Sean Graham, Bloom’s racing manager.
“The tendon injury he had wasn’t a serious one, but we took no risk with it whatsoever. He had six weeks of box rest and then was scanned. The scan showed the injury was healing, so he had some more box rest before we scanned him again, which showed further healing and the injury had got better again.
“He’s been on grass since June and he will probably have July and will be brought back in the second week of August. Then it will be a process of six weeks’ walking and then when he does start cantering, keeping an eye that the injury isn’t flaring up again so it will be one step at a time.
“He’s in the right hands and with somebody with loads and loads of patience. We will do everything we possibly can to get the horse back on the track again.”
Energumene in action at Cheltenham (Mike Egerton/PA)
It appeared stablemate El Fabiolo was ready to fill the void left by Energumene in last season’s Champion Chase, but with the younger chaser fluffing his lines as the odds-on favourite, connections were left to rue their injury woes as they watched Henry de Bromhead’s Captain Guinness take home the trophy.
The Energumene team are now expecting to follow a similar path to Prestbury Park provided their star performer returns to his championship best this autumn.
Graham continued: “The Hilly Way (at Cork) is normally where he goes and he hasn’t gone to Leopardstown, he has gone to the Clarence House. Both times he got beat in the Clarence House and then won at Cheltenham.
“After Cheltenham he normally goes to Punchestown and he normally has four races every year. I don’t want to plan too far ahead though and we will take it one step at a time with him.
“We’re probably ruing the fact he did get injured because the way the Champion Chase panned out, you would be very disappointed if he hadn’t have been there or thereabouts.”
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