'It's a great starting point for him' - Energumene the star of the show at Cork

Sunday: 2.20 Cork
Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase (Grade 2) | 2m½f | 5yo+ | RTE/RTV

Energumene will be remembered forever as the horse who ended Willie Mullins' Champion Chase hoodoo.

He did what the likes of Douvan, Min and Un De Sceaux couldn't do last March when breezing through the field, albeit a depleted one, to win the two-mile chasing showpiece under an ice-cool Paul Townend.

Not only did he prove himself to be a real top-notcher but also displayed versatility we never knew he had. The tearaway didn't tear away. The hare was held up. It turns out you can put him anywhere in a race and it doesn't matter a jot. He can adapt to any situation.

The chances are that little will be able to live with him here, so expect Townend, a likely replacement for Sean O'Keeffe now that Punchestown has been cancelled, to keep things simple and send Energumene straight to the front. Anything other than a straightforward success would come as a shock.

Shishkin is no longer Energumene's chief nemesis either. The 2021 Arkle winner was pulled up early in March after being affected by a rare bone condition and was lethargic on his reappearance in the Tingle Creek last Saturday, so he is set to step up in trip now.

It is last season's Arkle winner Edwardstone who has emerged as the biggest threat after his decisive Tingle Creek success and he is 5-2 second favourite for the Champion Chase.

But Energumene is very much the one to beat in the division and this will tell us what sort of fettle he is in for the season ahead. Mullins is looking forward to seeing how he gets on, as are we.

The champion trainer said: "Energumene has been in good shape at home. I’m very pleased with him and looking forward to getting him started for the season. He won the race last year and it's a great starting point for him."

Energumene: won this race last yearCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Townend agreed the Hilly Way is the perfect place for Energumene to commence his campaign.

The jockey said: "He won there last year and is by far the highest-rated runner in the race. It will be nice to see him back on the track. Hopefully all roads lead to the Champion Chase."

Energumene is evens with most firms to defend his Champion Chase crown successfully next March, although bet365 and Ladbrokes go 5-4.

Corkery hoping for more magic from McShee

Master McShee spent a lot of last season banging his head against the brick wall of Galopin Des Champs, chasing home the Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite in Grade 1s at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse, and now he bumps into another superstar from Closutton.

Paddy Corkery's pride and joy had his day in the sun at Limerick last Christmas when he surged late to land the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase and he is a very talented horse on his day as his rating of 157 tells you.

Paddy Corkery with Master McShee: 'Coming out of my place he'll probably want the run'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

That mark remains 19lb lower than Energumene's and Corkery knows Master McShee is up against it when he takes on the Champion Chase winner, especially as it hasn't been straightforward getting him ready.

Corkery said: "I've had a good few setbacks with him but he's working away well now. The only thing is coming out of my place he'll probably want the run. I just wouldn’t have the yardstick here to measure him against.

"He's going into open company now and you have a strong line-up again but when you look back on his form, that’s where Master McShee deserves to be. He won a Grade 1 last season and was second in two Grade 1s.

"Willie Mullins says Galopin Des Champs is a Gold Cup horse and the closest horse to him last season was Master McShee. He’s versatile as regards distance and two miles on soft ground would be lovely."

What they say

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Epson Du Houx
He was due to run in the Fortria at Navan but needs soft ground. He won nicely at Cork last season and is useful on his day.

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