Arkle dark horse has what it takes to tackle red-hot Shishkin

The Ladbrokes Trophy is the feature event this weekend, but given I already advised backing Two For Gold when covering for Tom Segal three weeks ago, it makes sense for me to look elsewhere for this week’s column.

The quality jumped up a notch last week with Chantry House, Ferny Hollow, Call Me Lyreen and Janidil all making successful seasonal reappearances, but the one who impressed me most was a horse I hadn’t previously heard of.

It was this time last year I latched on to Notebook at 33-1 for the Arkle in these pages and at Gowran on Thursday the horse to carry me into the winter months on his back emerged from the gloom.

The horse in question is Tony Bloom’s sparingly raced six-year-old Energumene. One of a handful of graduates from Tom and Sophie Lacey’s talented point-to-point ranks – others include Blackbow, Interconnected and King Roland – he had previously run in just two bumpers and a maiden hurdle, winning twice.

Energumene: produced a special performance at Gowran last weekCredit: Patrick McCann

By the same sire as Un De Sceaux in Denham Red, Energumene looked an embryo of that great campaigner when demolishing the beginners’ chase, making all and relishing the fences. Slightly scrappy when in close at the sixth and the last, the performance otherwise belied his inexperience and he won unextended by 18 lengths, with Paul Townend giving him a pat well before the line, an uncharacteristic display of affection in a lowly race.

Beating the 118- and 128-rated hurdlers Fort Worth Texas and Port Stanley does not a festival winner make, but – and pardon my novicey foray into sectionals – he posted a time (5m 25.90s) 28 seconds quicker than Hostage To Fortune (5m 53.50s) in the other 2m4f beginners’ chase and eight seconds quicker than Annamix in the conditions chase (5m 33.60s). The Red Mills Chase (2m4f, heavy, one fence omitted) won by Chris’s Dream in February was just a second quicker.

As such, it wasn’t surprising to see him given a Racing Post Rating of 149, 1lb less than Laurina’s rating when beating Minella Indo 12 months ago, and pleasingly the symmetry doesn’t end there, with the same mark given to Willie Mullins’ last Arkle winner Duc De Genievres on chasing debut in 2018 and Un De Sceaux when falling at Thurles on his chasing bow in 2014.

Despite running over 2m4f, Energumene’s racing style suggests his main weapon is his speed and fences seemed to have improved this particular skill. I would much rather bet on a front-runner than one held up as it allows jockeys to dictate their own fractions and put their rivals under pressure in the beginning to middle section of the race, leaving their rivals an impossible task in the closing stages. This works particularly well at Cheltenham too – see Frodon, Put The Kettle On et al.

The latter made her chasing debut over the same trip, while Duc Des Genievres warmed up for Cheltenham by winning over 2m4f the year before. Altior (2m2f) and Simonsig (2m3f) both began over further, conforming to the analogy that stamina is a prerequisite for success in the Arkle.

Energumene (Paul Townend, left) schools at Closutton alongside Lord RoyalCredit: Caroline Norris

With Townend suggesting he “wouldn’t mind going back in trip” (but equally Mullins added “he could easily go up in trip as he has a nice relaxed way of galloping”), the Arkle looks the best long-term target, for which he is still available at 33-1.

Admittedly, there is the small fact that Arkle favourite Shishkin looked flawless on his chase debut at Kempton on Monday, but him aside a lot of the protagonists in the market will be going elsewhere. Envoi Allen and Chantry House will go for the Marsh, Sharjah has been entered over hurdles and has yet to jump a fence and the same goes for Klassical Dream, who needs to bounce back.

Arkle fields are traditionally select and it would make sense for the Mullins team to take on Shishkin rather than Envoi Allen. A festive target has been mooted and I’m hoping they follow the same route they took with Laurina and run him in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. If he wins there the 33-1 for the Arkle could look the best Christmas present of all.

Cyrname is top-rated but there remains reason to doubt him

I’m going to stick my neck on the line and say it. The ratings say he’s the best horse in training, but Cyrname will not win the King George or the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

As part of an expert jury following the Betfair Chase on Saturday, I implored Kim Bailey to supplement Imperial Aura for the King George to give Clan Des Obeaux some top-class competition, because (gasp) unlike Lee Mottershead, I don’t think Cyrname can avenge last year’s defeat.

Paul Nicholls is a master of his craft and if anyone can pull it off he can, but Cyrname was never comfortable in the race last year and looked a blatant non-stayer behind stablemate Clan Des Obeaux.

Connections used a hard race in the 1965 Chase as an excuse, but he was beaten by Riders Onthe Storm before coming down back at his beloved Ascot afterwards and, after revisiting the race, I’m not convinced we learned much from the Charlie Hall.

Cyrname: does he have what it takes to win the King George and Cheltenham Gold Cup?Credit: Dan Abraham

The in-running comments indicate he raced freely and, although he proved he didn’t have to lead, Aye Right didn’t go fast enough to really put his stamina under pressure on a flat track on soft ground.

Cyrname’s excellent jumping meant Harry Cobden could fill his lungs at regular intervals and while it was great to see him saunter home on the bridle, I’m not convinced there was a great deal left in the locker.

Clan Des Obeaux is undoubtedly the horse to beat at Kempton and I hope some fresh opposition will emerge after Lostintranslation’s disappointing run in the Betfair Chase. The undulations of Cheltenham will ask a totally different question of Cyrname thereafter, provided the race doesn’t turn into a farcical sprint like last year.

Playle's plays

3.00 Newbury/3.15 Newcastle, Saturday

I’m staying loyal to Grade 2 winner Two For Gold in the Ladbrokes Trophy, although would give him an equally good chance in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle were he to end up there.

He made a satisfactory return to action when second over an inadequate 2m3f at Wetherby and the fifth-placed Happy Diva would have given the form a boost if staying on her feet in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

The seven-year-old should be much more at home over staying trips and his attacking jumping style will be a bonus at either venue. The other horse I’d consider backing for the Ladbrokes Trophy is Sam Brown, but Two For Gold would receive 4lb from him and Kim Bailey couldn’t be in better form at the moment.

Two For Gold (right) a strong weekend fancy for Maddy PlayleCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Playle's lays

Sully D’Oc AA
12.45 Newbury, Friday

A 10lb rise for his Ascot success last time seems steep considering that contest appeared to lack some depth – the second-placed Editeur De Gite could reoppose here – and although this six-year-old is still unexposed in Britain, he was beaten in this race off a mark of 127 last year and could face some very interesting rivals.

Tamaroc Du Mathan won as last week’s nap, while there is definitely improvement in the marks of Garry Clermont, Gaelik Coast and Financier. Sully D’Oc AA is bound to be popular in the market after a cosy success last time but won’t represent much value.

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