Lame Energumene out of big Arkle showdown with Shishkin at Cheltenham

Arguably the most eagerly awaited showdown at next week's Cheltenham Festival is off as Energumene will not be taking on Shishkin in the Sporting Life Arkle after Willie Mullins revealed on Friday morning that his unbeaten chaser is lame.

Energumene was as short as 2-1 for the crunch clash with Shishkin after winning his three starts over fences by a combined total of 36 and a half lengths and earning a rating of 163.

Mullins told the Racing Post: "Unfortunately Energumene is lame after meeting with a setback. I don't know the extent of the injury at this stage as we haven't had him fully checked yet, but he won't make the festival.

"It's such a shame as it was one of the races at the festival that everyone was looking forward to. It's very disappointing for everyone, well apart from Nicky Henderson and Joe Donnelly, of course!"

Arkle card and betting

Energumene was part of an elite band of novice chasers to have acquired a rating in the 160s before this season's festival. Royal Pagaille, Monkfish, Envoi Allen and Shishkin have done likewise and Mullins described his victory in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown's Dublin Racing Festival as almost flawless.

Mullins said at the time: "I thought that was a hell of a performance from a novice to jump and gallop like he did. I don't think he really did anything wrong, maybe he stood a little far back at the last – and Paul said he stood a little far back off one other fence – but other than that it was as good as you'll get for a horse having his third run over fences."

That ten-length defeat of stablemate Franco De Port, a Grade 1 winner on his previous start, earned Energumene a Racing Post rating of 168.

Fences have been the making of Energumene this season, and he barely came out of second gear when winning a beginners chase by 18 lengths back at Gowran in November. He then took care of the smart Captain Guinness at Naas and a first Grade 1 win followed with the minimum of fuss at Leopardstown last month.

In Energumene's absence, last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Shishkin, also unbeaten over fences, has now shortened into 4-7 with Paddy Power for the Arkle. Allmankind is 9-2 with the same firm, while Captain Guinness is 8-1.

Aintree on the agenda for Jason The Militant

Henry de Bromhead's Unibet Champion Hurdle team has been whittled down to two from three after it was decided Jason The Militant will not make the trip to Cheltenham.

The seven-year-old was an impressive winner of a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse last time, but connections have opted to wait for Aintree instead.

De Bromhead said: "We had a think about things and we just feel he is better on softer ground, certainly a bit softer than it looks like it's going to be at Cheltenham. He's in great form – mighty in fact – but we're going to give Cheltenham a miss and aim him at the Aintree Hurdle next month. That's the plan."

De Bromhead will still have two worthy contenders for the Champion Hurdle, including favourite Honeysuckle, who will be putting her unbeaten record on the line, and dual Grade 2 winner Aspire Tower.

He added: "Honeysuckle and Aspire Tower both seem in great form. I'm delighted with them and it's all systems go for Tuesday."

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