Energumene ready for take-off as Mullins eyes sixth Ryanair on the trot

6.35 Punchestown
Ryanair Novice Chase (Grade 1) | 2m | 5yo+ | RTE2/RTV

This is a Grade 1 in which Willie Mullins has an exceptional record and it will be a surprise if the champion trainer does not secure his sixth successive victory in it with unbeaten chaser Energumene, while Janidil is not a bad back-up.

Ruled out of the Arkle at Cheltenham at the 11th hour, Energumene hasn't been seen on a racecourse since he blew his Irish Arkle rivals away at Leopardstown in February. A reproduction of that run would make him difficult to beat.

Stablemate Janidil could represent the biggest danger to Energumene, although there is a slight doubt about the trip for the JP McManus-owned chaser.

An impressive winner of the 2m4f Grade 1 novice chase at Fairyhouse earlier this month, Janidil will need to prove he has the speed to go toe-to-toe with a horse like Energumene back over the minimum trip.

He has won over 2m over hurdles, but at handicap level only, and this will be Janidil's first time tackling the trip over fences, which is a slight worry.

One horse who doesn't lack speed is Captain Guinness, who paid the price for going too quickly at Cheltenham, where he was running on fumes when third in the Arkle.

Willie Mullins: attempting a sixth successive victory in the Grade 1 Ryanair Novice ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

He has faced Energumene twice before – he was well held behind him at Naas and fell when the race had come to the boil in the Irish Arkle – and, judging by those efforts, he will need the short-priced favourite to falter if he's to have a chance of winning.

Embittered took a heavy tumble in the Grand Annual and needs to bounce back, while Zarkareva has loads to find on ratings.

Team Janidil hope difficult decision pays off

Go head-to-head with Energumene over two miles or take on Monkfish and Envoi Allen over three?

For the connections of Janidil, it may have felt as if they had to choose between a slap in the face or a punch in the stomach, but Colreevy will have provided much-needed confidence ahead of this big clash that the big guns can be downed.

Janidil is a good horse in his own right but, compared with his stablemate Energumene – and the market will back this statement up – he is not a big gun.

Frank Berry: 'it will be interesting to see if he can cope with the trip'Credit: Patrick McCann

An impressive winner of the Underwriting Exchange Gold Cup Novice Chase over 2m4f, Janidil will have to prove himself as good, if not better, over the minimum trip if he is to get the better of the short-priced favourite.

Explaining the reasoning behind coming here instead of taking on Monkfish and Envoi Allen earlier in the week over three miles, Frank Berry, racing manager to Janidil's owner JP McManus, said: "We hadn't much choice really. Did we want to take on the big boys over three miles? That didn't look the easiest thing to do, so we said we'd try him back over two miles instead."

Berry added: "Willie is happy with him and it will be interesting to see if he can cope with the trip. He was good at Fairyhouse. It wasn't a surprise because he was travelling well when he fell with Rachael riding him at Leopardstown back in February. He's been a fair horse all along and let's hope he runs another nice race here on Thursday."

What they say

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Captain Guinness and Zarkareva
Captain Guinness seems to be in great form since Cheltenham and came out of the race very well. I'm very happy with him and hopefully he can run well. Zarkareva has done really well since switching to fences and won a Grade 3 at Punchestown earlier in the season, so she will enjoy going back there.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Energumene and Janidil
Energumene was very good until he had a little setback before Cheltenham. If he can reproduce the form he showed earlier in the season he sets the standard for this race. Janidil improved for the drier ground and he put up a brilliant performance in Fairyhouse. Hopefully, one of them can win it. They’re two good horses to have for a championship race like this.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Embittered
He had a nasty fall at Cheltenham but he has been well since then. There is a nice pot on offer, so hopefully he has a good chance of getting a nice share of the money.

Read more on day three at Punchestown:

4.50 Punchestown: Enda Bolger looks to Stand Up And Fight to continue love affair with La Touche

5.25 Punchestown: Flooring Porter out to emulate Anzum by completing Cheltenham-Punchestown double

6.00 Punchestown: Willie Mullins relies on unexposed Capodanno to add to outstanding record

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