Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase report and replay: Energumene claims crown
Energumene provided Willie Mullins with a first win in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase but the eagerly-anticipated rematch with Shishkin failed to materialise.
Nicky Henderson's charge, who beat the winner in their epic Clarence House duel, was pulled up at halfway having made mistakes and dropped out to the rear of the field.
There had been a change in tactics with Energueme who was held-up here having made the running at Ascot but Paul Townend took closer order as stablemate Chacun Pour Soi unseated Patrick Mullins at the top of the hill.
Eventual runner-up Funambule Sivola (40/1) and Envoi Allen were the only dangers turning in but they couldn't match the winner's kick as he came clear to score by eight-and-a-half lengths.
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The winning trainer said: “We just thought we got the tactics completely wrong at Ascot so the plan today was to follow Shishkin. The problem Paul then had was you could see after two fences Shishkin wasn’t handling the ground so it then became a case of when was Paul going to forget about Shishkin and ride the race. Nico was wise in pulling Shishkin up, you could clearly see he hated the ground.
“I was very disappointed to see Chacun Pour Soi go out of the race when he did. I was gutted for Patrick (Mullins) because he appeared to be loving it. He might have given him a race. At every stage, though, Energumene seemed to be cantering and these extreme conditions suit him.
“He probably has more speed than we thought, at Ascot we felt after the race we should have waited rather than make all. That was the only plan I could come up with to turn the tables on Shishkin. It was a bit of an anti-climax for the neutrals but it was more nerve-wracking for me because you could see he was travelling the whole way. It’s great to finally win it, it’s great for Paul and great for Tony Bloom (owner). When the rain came he began to get very confident.”
Townend said: “I was on a very good horse and you can make it look easy then. He’d won on very heavy ground in Ireland so that wasn’t going to worry us. It didn’t work in Ascot and the tactics kind of went out the window early on (here) as well, he was enjoying himself. I let him jump up there and just kept holding on to him.”
Winning owner Tony Bloom, who is the owner of Brighton & Hove Albion football club, said: “I did believe, I believe in Willie and in Paul Townend, who rode a magnificent race. The rain really helped us, we were praying for rain and were all getting really wet, but we’re delighted to be wet. He’s an amazing horse and we were confident going in, he’s won the Champion Chase and it’s brilliant.
“We were very excited, four or five out we were getting very confident. Obviously Shishkin pulled up and that made it a lot easier for us, but full credit to Energumene. A brilliant horse, we’re having a great time.”
Of Shiskin’s run, Henderson said: “He wasn’t where he wanted to be and I knew why, he just couldn’t get out of it (the ground). We’re in very extreme ground, yes he’s won on soft ground but you’re going round in heavy ground. That is not his scene, obviously.”
🗣Fresh from the battle, Patrick Mullins reflects on Facile Vega's win in the Champion Bumper and other Wednesday talking points at Cheltenham...#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/pLOQX2JL6A
— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) March 16, 2022
Henry de Bromhead said of Envoi Allen and Put The Kettle on: “I thought Envoi ran a cracker, I wouldn’t have mind seeing him on better ground. His wind just catches him out, especially on that ground, but I thought he ran a blinder, he jumped really well.The mare (Put The Kettle On) was a little bit disappointing.”
Politologue, winner of the race in 2020, finished fourth for Paul Nicholls in what was the final start of a lengthy and successful career that also yielded two Tingle Creeks and a Melling Chase. He enjoyed an enthusiastic reception as he took a lap of honour in the parade ring.
Nicholls said: “I’m really emotional to hear that applause from the crowd for him, it just shows what a wonderful horse he’s been and it’s great to see people have enjoyed him. It was a special day when he won the Champion Chase here, but he’s also won two Tingle Creeks and a Grade One at Aintree so he’s been a smashing horse for the Hales family. He goes out at the top and he’ll join Big Bucks in retirement. He’s going to have a wonderful home.”
Timeform verdict - David Cleary
It's a statement of the obvious that not every race will deliver on what it promises. This year's Champion Chase, one of the most anticipated clashes of the week, just happened to be one of those. Within two fences in the back straight, Shishkin and Chacun Pour Soi, two of the big three, had exited the race. Chacun Pour Soi was still bowling along in front when he blundered and unseated rider. For Shishkin the race never really started, off the bridle almost from flag fall and jumping with increasing lethargy before being pulled up.
The third of the market leaders Energumene took full advantage. With several other pacemakers in the line-up, including his stable-companion Chacun Pour Soi, the tactics were changed, Energumene dropped out before moving smoothly into contention after four out, the race soon over once he went to the front in the straight.
It was left to the thriving Funambule Sivola to bely his odds of 40/1 and take second, clearly better than ever, though no match for Energumene, who surely didn't have to be near his very best.
The ground, changed officially to Heavy after the race, was blamed by connections for Shishkin's no-show, incessant rain from mid-morning making the previous day's going on the fast side of Good a distant memory.
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