'He still seems to have a swagger about him' - can double Champion Chase winner Energumene hit heights again?

Three-quarters of the field might be from the same stable, but there is an argument to be made that the 2024 Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase is the best running there has been of the Grade 2. 

Energumene, the two-time winner of the Champion Chase, returns to the track after a year and half off and is the first of Willie Mullins' A-team of two-mile chasers to reappear. 

Gaelic Warrior shot to the summit of the 2025 Champion Chase market when news emerged he was to miss the King George. He is 7-2 with Paddy Power, while last year's Arkle winner El Fabiolo is 6-1. Energumene is available at 10-1 but those odds could tumble if he starts back on the front foot here. 

Mullins is chasing an astonishing 16th success in the Hilly Way and he has won every running bar two since 2007. Cilaos Emery (2019), Chacun Pour Soi (2020), Energumene (2021, 2022) and El Fabiolo (2023) means he has won the last five in a row. 

The market might suggest it is a one-horse race, but it is anything but. Dinoblue is a Grade 1-winning mare against the geldings already, having won the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at last year's Leopardstown Christmas festival. She has never been out of the first three in her 11 runs over fences and has won five of those. The problem is that she has to give 3lb to Energumene. 

So, too, does Ferny Hollow, whom we have seen only once since the Christmas of 2021. Blue Lord is also returning from a big absence and Hunters Yarn has plenty to find, so maybe the value option could be Appreciate It at around 16-1. 

Ideally, he would need further, but both his wins over fences have came at this trip and, don't forget, he won a Supreme Novices' Hurdle by 24 lengths in 2021. 

He hit a low of 1.22 in-running on Betfair when leading over the last against Fastorslow and Galopin Des Champs on his comeback last year in the John Durkan, and won impressively first time out the season before. He obviously goes well fresh and should not be underestimated. 

Banbridge would be a player on the best of his form but he surely needs quicker conditions.

'Energumene feels in really good order at home' - Townend 

Paul Townend says Energumene still has a pep in his step at home and cannot wait to be reunited with the horse who ended Willie Mullins' hoodoo in the Champion Chase in 2022, then won it again in 2023. 

We have seen him only once since that second success at the Cheltenham Festival, a workmanlike win in the Punchestown Champion Chase the following month, as a hind leg injury forced him to miss all last season. 

He has been given time to recover and Townend thinks he feels like the same horse who dominated the Champion Chase division two years ago. 

Townend said: "I'm looking forward to getting Energumene back on the track. I really missed him last season. I've had some brilliant days on him, especially at Cheltenham, and he's one of those horses I just love riding. 

"I've sat on him a few times at home over the last few weeks and he seems in really good order. He's not getting any younger, but he still seems to have a swagger about him, so I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do at Cork. He's been an absolute star over the years and hopefully another big season is in store. Let's hope he starts back from where he left off."

What they say 

Willie Mullins, trainer of Dinoblue, Ferny Hollow, Appreciate It, Blue Lord, Energumene and Hunters Yarn
Energumene has done everything right at home and we’re very happy with him. It will be great if he can return to his old form. I don’t think Dinoblue will be far away. We’re very happy with her going into the race. Ferny Hollow is another coming back from a long break but another who, if he shows his best form, he could play a part in what could turn into a smashing race. Appreciate It might find this trip too sharp for him and if he picked up some prize-money we’d be happy. Blue Lord is coming back after missing most of last season. The trip might be a little short for him but when things fall right, he can do it in races like this. I’d like to see him finish sound and we can plan for Christmas or after that with him then. Hunters Yarn will like the trip but whether his rating is high enough to trouble some of these I wouldn’t know, but it will be good to get him started.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Banbridge
We think he has come on nicely from his first run of the season at Navan. We think he will come forward from this run, too, but hopefully he can give a good account of himself in what looks a very competitive race.

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