Energumene 'fine' says Willie Mullins despite big Betfair drift on Thursday

Energumene drifted all the way out to 21-1 on Betfair on Thursday night but Willie Mullins has said all is fine with the eight-year-old and he remains on course for another crack at Shishkin in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The two-time Grade 1 winner was generally 5-2 for the Champion Chase following his defeat to Shishkin in the Clarence House, but he has been on the drift all week and is currently as big as 9-2 with bet365, William Hill, Betfair and Paddy Power.

There has been an even more significant drift on the exchanges and the biggest price Energumene has touched on Betfair is 22 (21-1). He was still trading at 10.5 at 10am on Friday morning.

When contacted by the Racing Post on Friday morning to find out about his wellbeing, Mullins replied: "Energumene is fine. Ruby [Walsh] rode him in work yesterday and everything was fine with him."

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Sean Graham, racing manager to owner Tony Bloom, revealed to Nick Luck Daily that Energumene had suffered a stone bruise last weekend but is now sound, with the Champion Chase still very much the aim.

Graham said: "About six days ago the horse had a stone bruise and he was slightly lame, but with these things you just need to give it a couple of days.

"The shoes were taken off his front feet, he was given an easy two days. The shoes were put back on him and he cantered on Tuesday morning and he was sound on Wednesday, and he did another canter yesterday morning and he was sound after that as well.

"It was just a little niggle that he got and it's just one of those things. These things happen with horses, you've got to expect it.

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"As far as I'm concerned now having spoken to Willie yesterday, the horse is sound and is going to be aimed at the Champion Chase on Wednesday. That is the plan and has always been the plan.

"He will be left in the Ryanair but the only reason he will be left in the Ryanair was if something untoward happened before to stop him running in the Champion Chase."

Shishkin remains the rock-solid favourite on the exchanges at 1.78 to extend his winning streak over fences in the Champion Chase, with Energumene's stablemate Chacun Pour Soi supported into 5.3. Nube Negra is 13.

Energumene is a top-priced 3-1 with bet365 for the Ryanair behind stablemate and last year's winner, Allaho.

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