Dec 09,2024
A day after Jonbon strutted his stuff at Sandown, Energumene proved his considerable ability remains very much intact with a successful return from 20 months on the sidelines in the Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase at Cork.
The Willie Mullins-trained 10-year-old claimed this Grade Two prize in both 2021 and 2022, kicking off campaigns which both featured victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
He missed the entirety of last season through injury, though, meaning his returned to Cork marked his first competitive outing since winning at the Punchestown Festival in the spring of 2023.
Despite his lengthy absence, Energumene was a 5-4 favourite to make it a Hilly Way hat-trick under Paul Townend and he jumped accurately on front end throughout.
Energumene gives Willie Mullins a 16th victory in the Hilly Way Chase.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 8, 2024
A fall for Banbridge at the final fence ended the race as a contest. pic.twitter.com/7GAM4l0cHB
The race-fit Banbridge was the only one able to go with him in the straight, but he just looked to be coming off second-best when unseating Richie Deegan at the final fence.
His exit left Energumene clear of the remainder and he passed the post with 10 lengths in hand over stablemate Dinoblue, with Appreciate It and Blue Lord rounding off a Mullins one-two-three-four.
"That was a very exuberant display from him," Mullins said.
"I thought Dinoblue would make more of the running, but Paul said his horse was just looking for fences to jump and wanted to go a better gallop, so he let him on instead of fighting him.
"I was very happy with how he jumped and he had been doing everything right since her came back in August. Hopefully he can keep going that way and it was a nice performance to build on for the season."
Energumene memorably came off second-best in a titanic clash with Shishkin in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot in January 2022 and whether he will head back to Berkshire for a possible clash with Shishkin's stablemate Jonbon next month remains to be seen.
"He didn't look like he needed the run, galloped the whole way to the line and had looked excellent since he came in," the champion trainer added.
"Normally we skip Christmas (with his Hilly Way Chase winners) and the Clarence House Chase was what we did previously, so we'll see how he comes out of it before making any decision."
Mullins also had good news on the talented but fragile Ferny Hollow, who was in the process of running a decent race on his return to action before falling in the home straight.
He said: "I'm told Ferny Hollow is fine and the news back is that he is good and came home and I was very happy with how most of the rest ran.
"It was nice to get them out and started for the season so we'll try to find opportunities for them."
Pray Tell provided local owner-trainer Desmond Kenneally with the biggest winner of his career to date in the Singletons Supervalu Stayers Novice Hurdle.
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A quality field of six runners went to post for the Grade Three contest, with dual winner Pray Tell a 9-2 shot off the back of finishing third in his hat-trick bid at Punchestown in mid-October.
Minella Sixo, the 5-4 favourite for Gordon Elliott, attempted to make all the running over the extended three miles and looked likely to oblige after seeing off the challenge of the strong-travelling Just For Love in the home straight.
However, John Shinnick had kept his powder dry for a late run with Pray Tell and delivered his mount with a well-timed run at the final flight before he pulled two and a half lengths clear on the run-in.
Kenneally said: "That is brilliant and he never runs a bad race. I was confident coming here and this horse's heart is unbelievable
"It is lovely to train a horse like this and to win at my local track is mighty. To win a graded race is unbelievable as I only train three horses and am farming.
"This is a good horse who would have been heard of years ago only for injury. Thankfully things have been good for the last two years and if this was another horse, he mightn't be in my yard but I know he is good. He's in (training) nearly 12 months so he could do with a little break."
Only By Night continued her progress over fences with a dominant display in the Coolmore NH Sires Order Of St George Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase.
Gavin Cromwell's charge had looked a smart recruit to the chasing game when readily accounting for Mirazur West on her fencing debut at Tipperary last month and was stepping up to Grade Two level here in the hands of Sean Flanagan.
The market principals came to the fore at the end of the extended two-mile contest, with the 7-4 favourite Nara holding sway jumping the fourth fence from the finish, but it was clear halfway up the home straight that Only By Night (2-1) had far more petrol in the tank.
Once given her head, the six-year-old cruised clear and was good value for the eventual winner margin of three and three-quarter lengths.
"She was good in Tipperary and has built on that. I thought today was coming plenty soon but with a race like this, you have to go for it," said Cromwell.
"She is a very big mare, jumps very well and I'm looking forward to plenty more from her.
"The Grade Two mares' novice chase at Thurles in January would look to be her next race."
Joseph O'Brien's Puturhandstogether opened his account over obstacles at the second attempt in the Bar One Racing "Bet 10 Euros Get 50 Euros Sign Up Offer" 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.
Third on his introduction at Punchestown three weeks ago, the JP McManus-owned 4-1 winner went a couple of places better under Mark Walsh, beating stablemate Turn And Finish by a length and a quarter.
"He had a nice run in Punchestown and jumped well today. He quickened up well and Mark was very happy with him, although he was green in front," said O'Brien.
"He came on from his first run so I hope he'll improve again. His jumping was sharper as he made a few little mistakes in Punchestown and was nice today.
"I haven't really thought beyond today, but I don't think he'll go into a graded race."
Sky Lord was a decisive winner of the Bar One Racing 'Guaranteed Multiples All Shops' Maiden Hurdle for Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O'Keeffe.
The five-year-old finished down the field on his bumper debut at Leopardstown last Christmas for Peter Fahey, but fared better after switching yards when second at Fairyhouse in February.
Sent off at 5-2 for his reappearance and hurdling bow, Sky Lord travelled strongly before pulling four a and a quarter lengths clear of 4-5 favourite Kappa Jy Pyke.
De Bromhead said: "He jumped well, Darragh was brilliant on him and I'm delighted for the Holians (owners). He is a nice young horse, came to us highly thought of and ran well in a bumper last season.
"We're lucky to have him, he is a gorgeous big horse who has plenty of pace. I was worried he might be keen but they went a nice gallop and he was good.
"We came to try to win our maiden hurdle so that's done now and we might look to one of those novice hurdles in January now as Christmas will probably come too soon."
