Energumene (5-2) helped trainer Willie Mullins land a dramatic first victory in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, the feature on the second day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.
Pre-race all the talk had been about the heavyweight re-match of Energumene with Nicky Henderson's Shishkin, a winner of the Arkle Chase at this meeting last year and the Grade One Maghull Novices Chase at the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse. The latter had just got the better of Energumene in a thrilling battle in the SBK Clarence House Chase at Ascot last month. But back at Prestbury Park, the match-up didn't materialise, but it was still an action-packed contest.
In rain-softened conditions first Shiskin – sent off the 5-6 favourite Shishkin – was pulled up by Nico Be Boinville. Then the front-running Chacun Pour Soi – stablemate of eventual winner Energumene – fell leaving last year's winner Put The Kettle On in the lead. But as he faded, fellow Henry De Bromhead-trained Envoi Allen – under Rachael Blackmore – went to the front.
