Racing Post

Energumene to reign over Shishkin

Maddy Playle says the Cheltenham and Punchestown winner is the one to beat now as his big rival gets set to return

THE raw beauty of the two-mile chasing division is always a big draw for jumps fans and it has rarely been better illustrated than in January’s epic Clarence House Chase showdown between Shishkin and Energumene.

Two of the best in the business jumping fences at speed and going right to the wire made it the race of the season.

Shishkin came out on top of that memorable Ascot duel but it was Energumene who reigned supreme at the big spring festivals with dominant wins at Cheltenham and Punchestown.

It wasn’t a fair fight in the Champion Chase, however, as Shishkin was pulled up and subsequently found to be suffering from a rare bone condition.

The new season brings the mouthwatering prospect of a rematch between the two heavyweights and it will be interesting to see if the versatile Energumene can assert his dominance, particularly if there is livelier ground on the big occasions.

The weather didn’t play into the hooves of Nube Negra last term. He began his campaign with a joint-career-best win in the Shloer Chase but was unable to back it up in the Tingle Creek and Celebration Chase afterwards.

Greaneteen took those two Sandown Grade 1s but we know his limitations when he isn’t racing over the Railway fences on decent ground.

Chacun Pour Soi defeated Greaneteen when taking a third Dublin Chase but he turns 11 soon and is heading towards his twilight years.

With Champion Chase winners Politologue and Put

The Kettle On retired, there is room for a few wildcards and Edwardstone’s Aintree conqueror Gentleman De Mee and the returning Ferny Hollow might challenge Chacun Pour Soi as Mullins’ next best after Energumene.

Energumene

Eight-year-old bay gelding

Trainer Willie Mullins

Chase form 11111211 (Best RPR 179)

LH 111 (177) RH 11121 (179)

His Clarence House defeat to Shishkin was the only blip in an otherwise faultless fourrace season capped by Grade 1 wins at Cheltenham and Punchestown.

There could be many more miles on the clock too as he is relatively lightly raced for his eight years, owing to an injury the season before last.

His detractors will say last season’s division lacked depth with the likes of Chacun Pour Soi and Envoi Allen seemingly below their best, but Energumene’s class shone through with Racing Post Ratings of 174, 179, 177 and 178.

He proved his versatility both tactically and regarding ground. Paul Townend abandoned aggressive tactics at Cheltenham and he still came through the field easily, while his Punchestown win came on better ground than he had faced in some time.

This formidable chaser sets a high bar for his rivals to reach. Shishkin may have been better in a single instance, but Energumene has fewer questions to answer after compiling a complete season.

Going preference Has raced mostly on soft but handles any ✪✪✪✪✪

Shishkin 8bg

Trainer Nicky Henderson

Chase form 1111111P (181)

LH 111P (175) RH 1111 (181) Looked as if he was going to live up to his lofty reputation and Nicky Henderson’s high expectations when winning the Desert Orchid and Clarence House last season.

However, he was slowly into stride and jumped poorly in the early stages of the Champion Chase, leading Nico de Boinville to pull him up as the 5-6 favourite.

He was found to be suffering from a rare bone condition afterwards, which surely prompted a hefty exhale at Seven Barrows, but whether he can return to his brilliant best remains to be seen.

Henderson masterminded a similar comeback with

Sprinter Sacre and we may get our first indication of Shishkin’s wellbeing in the Tingle Creek at Sandown, a track at which he has yet to race.

He despatched last year’s winner Greaneteen with ease in the Desert Orchid Chase and will need to resume in similar form if he is to threaten Energumene at Cheltenham in March.

Going preference Handles any

✪✪✪✪✪ Chacun Pour Soi

10 b g

Trainer Willie Mullins

Chase form 311211113151U2 (179)

LH 31211131U (177) RH 11152 (179)

His unseating five out in last year’s Champion Chase ended his opportunity to avenge his 2021 defeat and prove he handles Cheltenham.

The fact that Paul Townend abandoned him for Energumene shows he had been usurped in the Closutton pecking order anyway.

A rare talent on his day, he was at his best when winning a third Dublin Chase last season. However, he didn’t fire in the Tingle Creek before that and was put in his place by his stablemate at Punchestown, so he is beginning to look onedimensional.

He will be 11 by the time next year’s Champion Chase comes around and, apart from Moscow Flyer, no horse that old has won since the 1970s. Going preference Record indicates he prefers soft

✪✪✪✪✪ Greaneteen 8bg

Trainer Paul Nicholls

Chase form 11141234141251 (171)

LH 14345 (167) RH 111214121 (171)

Strong-travelling type who has progressed for the last few seasons to put up some excellent performances.

His three Grade 1 wins have come at Sandown on ground no worse than good to soft, with a peak RPR of 171 suggesting he is a rock-solid performer.

He was no match for Shishkin in last year’s Desert Orchid but can take advantage if Nicky Henderson’s star fails to recapture his form. He also came up short in the 2021 Champion Chase and connections are unsure as to whether Cheltenham suits.

Expect him to be cherry ripe for his Tingle Creek defence as trainer Paul Nicholls is a master at targeting horses and optimising their talents.

Going preference Wona novice handicap chase on heavy but appears to prefer spring ground

✪✪✪✪✪ Ferny Hollow 7 bb g

Trainer Willie Mullins

Chase form 11 (168)

LH 1 (168) RH 1 (152)

Has five wins from seven starts under rules, including Grade 1s in the 2020 Champion Bumper and 2021 Racing Post Novice Chase.

He wears a hood and can race keenly but has latent ability, as he showed when giving Riviere D’Etel 13lb and winning by a length and a half last Christmas.

His stablemate and subsequent top-level winner Gentleman De Mee was behind on his chasing debut and he also downed Bob Olinger on his hurdling debut in 2020.

He has had only four runs over jumps, so lacks experience, and there is room for improvement in his chasing technique as he jumped right at Leopardstown.

It is unclear where his limitations lie but he comes with risks attached.

Ground preference Best performance was on soft

✪✪✪✪✪ Edwardstone 8bg

Trainer Alan King

Chase form UB111112 (164) LH UB1112 (164) RH 11 (164) Enjoyed an incredible season last year, reeling off a fivetimer after a stuttering start to his chasing career and finishing a gallant second to Gentleman De Mee at Aintree.

He was something of a latecomer to fences after the plan was shelved the previous season and won the Arkle as an eight-year-old like Sizing Europe and Moscow Flyer. A scopey and accurate jumper, his nimbleness helped him navigate his way to victory there.

There was just 2lb between his last five runs on RPRs, which emphasises his consistency, but he needs to improve against tougher opposition now.

With stamina in his pedigree, connections are reportedly considering stepping him up in trip this season, which could unlock further improvement.

Ground preference Versatile. Has won on good and heavy.

✪✪✪✪✪ Gentleman De Mee

6bg

Trainer Willie Mullins

Chase form 52111 (167)

LH 211 (167) RH 51 (152) Headstrong six-year-old who cuts a similar figure to his owner JP McManus’s Grade 1 winner Great Field as he is quirky but has plenty of talent.

His ability came to the fore at the end of last season when he beat Edwardstone by four and a half lengths at Aintree, but it’s worth remembering that came at a speed-favouring track and his rival had endured a long season.

He boasts an exuberant running style but appears to be becoming more tractable with racing and if replicating his Maghull win can definitely be involved in the top two-mile events.

He has come up short in open company over hurdles before, though, and untrustworthy for now. Ground preference Handles all but may be better on decent ground

Others to consider

Dual Grade 2 winner Nube Negra is high class but needs things to drop right and is much better on decent ground. Another bold win in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham’s November meeting could set him up for a big season and undoubtedly he has plenty of ability if able to use it.

As well as Nube Negra, Dan Skelton has several horses who could be of interest. Third Time Lucki would need to improve from last season, but last year’s Greatwood winner West Cork is also intriguing and he is set to go chasing this term. Add in My Drogo, who is returning from injury, and Skelton has several who could make the step up to this grade.

Of the top intermediatedistance novice chasers from last season, Bob Olinger has become disappointing, while Galopin Des Champs looked something freakish and could head for the Gold Cup. Willie Mullins has an embarrassment of riches at the top level and if anything happens to Energumene he could deputise.

Another to fit into that bracket is the brilliant Allaho. Connections pondered dropping back to two miles after last season’s Ryanair but went up to three miles instead. Given his success over further, it seems unlikely he will run over this trip.

It would be surprising if last season’s Champion Chase runner-up Funambule Sivola was able to better that effort as plenty fell in his favour then. He slightly falls between two stools in terms of handicapping and Graded races but should be integral to some of the top two-mile chases in Britain.

VERDICT

Energumene might have had an in-form Shishkin’s measure at the festival anyway and he can sweep all before him this season.

It is difficult to know how Shishkin will recover from his bone condition, but it is hardly an injury we are used to seeing in jump racing and the prognosis could be quite complex.

He had a tough race in the Clarence House, which is another factor to consider when assessing whether he can get back to his best.

Similar to last season, it could be slim pickings behind the main two when they line up, although the prizes could go to an array of different names in their absence. There is room for a surprise package to emerge from the novice division or from left field.

Further evidence is required from Gentleman De Mee and Ferny Hollow before trusting them in the highest grade. Both are keen-going types, which could be their undoing.

THE BIG JUMP OFF

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2022-10-17T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-10-17T07:00:00.0000000Z

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