Energumene is now the odds-on favourite to defend his Queen Mother Champion Chase title at Cheltenham in March after a bloodless winning comeback at Cork on Sunday.
Carrying the colours of Brighton & Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom, the Willie Mullins-saddled eight-year-old justified odds of 1-9 by 15 lengths for a repeat success in the Grade Two Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase.
Energumene is now a general 4-5 (from 5-4) market leader – William Hill go even-money – for Cheltenham’s Wednesday feature, and Mullins said: “It’s a relief to get it out of the way.