Dual Champion Chase winner Energumene on the comeback trail after injury with December return on the cards

Willie Mullins' star two-mile chaser Energumene is on the comeback trail after a hind leg injury scuppered his opportunity to try to emulate Badsworth Boy in landing a third consecutive Queen Mother Champion Chase last season.

A six-time Grade 1 winner, he was the dominant force in the open two-mile chase division before missing out on last season. He gave Mullins his first victory in the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2022, when putting in a spectacular display to come home eight and a half lengths in front of Funambule Sivola, before following up at Punchestown, where he defeated Chacun Pour Soi.

He suffered a surprise reversal when sent off the 4-9 favourite in the Clarence House Chase the following season but was back to his brilliant best when storming ten lengths clear to land his second Champion Chase, with last season's winner, Captain Guinness, trailing in second.