Cheltenham Festival: Energumene successfully defended his Queen Mother Champion Chase title at the Cheltenham Festival with a sensational showing for jockey Willie Mullins and trainer Paul Townend.
For those who bet on the 6/5 favourite, who entered the race under a motionless Townend, there was really never a reason to be concerned at all.
Energumene, the second-favourite and Arkle winner, struggled on the testing ground and made blunders early, so she never seemed like she would pose a threat.
With only Energumene, Clarence House Chase victor Editeur De Gite, and Captain Guinness, ridden by Rachael Blackmore, left in contention as they turned for home, Alan King’s mount appeared to be beaten.
Townend and Energumene put the race to rest between the final two fences, sailing over the penultimate before cruising up the hill for a 10-length victory, but it soon became evident that they were going the best of all.
Second place went to Captain Guinness and Blackmore, while Greaneteen held off Editeur De Gite for third and Edwardstone for fifth.
Townend won his second Champion Chase championship while riding Energumene, and the winning trainer also collected his second triumph in this race, making this horse the first to win back-to-back since Altior in 2018 and 2019.
The victory also marks Tony Bloom, the owner of Brighton & Hove Albion, as the race’s second winner.
The winning jockey commented following the race: “Paul was in a really optimistic frame of mind when he left. He declared he would jump off that height. He anticipated a close race and wanted to get going quickly, which is how the race turned out.
“The horse enjoyed the ground and jumping, therefore he was right. He performed flawlessly that day, and Paul performed flawlessly with him.
“I was far more confident going into the race this year since we didn’t have Shishkin to take on and we thought if there was any progress from the Clarence House that with ideally with a clear round he would win,” the competitor said.
Paul Townend, a successful jockey, continued, “It was simple, to be honest. After the first two fences, he was taking them on, he was quick at them, and it was easy – it was just a matter of keeping him in a rhythm after that. I got into a great rhythm with him.
“He took his fences better today, so I was able to ride him more forward than in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot. The looser ground undoubtedly contributed and helped, but he was simply moving ahead more. Today’s horse felt different to him.
“The elite two-milers, they are supposed to be running like that, but he had a little reach at the fence three out, I thought. It was a fantastic ride, and coming up the straight I was able to soak it all in, which doesn’t often happen in those championship races.”
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