Energumene lays down Champion Chase marker as he makes winning return in Hilly Way

Twenty-four hours after Jonbon's tour de force in the Tingle Creek at Sandown it was the turn of Energumene to rattle the Champion Chase market with a triumphant comeback from 20 months off at Cork.

The dual Champion Chase winner was cut to 5-1 (from 10) by Paddy Power to triumph again at Cheltenham in March, behind the top-priced 11-4 favourite Jonbon.

A hind leg injury kept Energumene on the sidelines all of last season but there were no signs he had suffered any setback as he stormed to victory in the Grade 2 Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase.

It was a third win in the race for the son of Denham Red, who used the race as a springboard for his successful Champion Chase campaigns in 2022 and 2023.

He may even have been a bit fresh and keen for his own good, but once Paul Townend let him stride on early on, he galloped at a relentless pace and put in some spectacular jumps.

A mistake at the third-last, his first of the race, looked as though it might drain his reserves, with the chasing Banbridge cutting the deficit, but Energumene stood off the last, Banbridge blundered Richie Deegan out of the saddle, and the two-time champion was left to come home ten lengths clear of stablemate Dinoblue.

Energumene and Paul Townend after winning the Hilly Way ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Willie Mullins said: “He's been doing everything right since he came in from his summer's grass and today he showed us that he is in the same sort of form that he showed us at home and hopefully he can keep coming forward after this.

"He put in some spectacular jumps, he came out of Paul's hands at times. The plan was for Dinoblue to make it but she obviously didn't go fast enough. Paul said his fellow just grabbed the bit and wanted to jump and gallop. He let him do it rather than fight him and it suited him to do that.

"He loves jumping and galloping and that's why he's a dual Champion Chase winner. We'll have a look at Christmas even though it's a little bit close, but we've gone to the Clarence House Chase before and that's an option too.”

Energumene could clash with Jonbon if routed to that Ascot race, and reflecting on the overall two-mile picture and his own contenders, including last season’s last season's top novice Gaelic Warrior and this year's beaten Champion Chase favourite El Fabiolo, Mullins added: “It's all there to play for. Jonbon put in a tremendous round yesterday but we will certainly give him competition. It's one we can all look forward to whenever they meet.

“El Fabiolo is in tremendous shape at home although I haven't galloped him yet. We might wait until the new year with him. Gaelic Warrior will probably run at Christmas. He could be anything back at two miles, he's very much the young horse coming on.”

It was unfortunate to see the winner's fragile but talented stablemate Ferny Hollow take a fall three out, but Mullins said: “I'm told Ferny Hollow is fine. He looked a bit ginger getting up but he seems okay and that's good news.”

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Banbridge said: “It was a great run. He came on nicely from Navan. It looked like it was in the balance at the last but it was a great run with a penalty and giving weight to Energumene. He'll go to Kempton now for the King George.”

BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Cheltenham, March 12)
William Hill: 5-2 Jonbon, 7-2 Gaelic Warrior, 6 Energumene, 8 El Fabiolo, 12 Il Etait Temps, 14 Banbridge, 16 bar.

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