Energumene (5/2) beats Funambule Sivola and Envoi Allen to win Champion Chase at Cheltenham Festival as favourite Shishkin is pulled up and Chacun Pour Soi falls; trainer Willie Mullins wins race for first time
Wednesday 16 March 2022 18:20, UK
A drastic change of tactics helped Energumene land a dramatic renewal of the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival as pre-race favourite Shishkin disappointed and was pulled up.
The hunted became the hunter as jockey Paul Townend, who had made all the running when beaten by Shishkin in a thrilling Clarence House Chase in January, settled Energumene in behind Nicky Henderson's horse.
Nico de Boinville, riding Shishkin, let out the warning signs early on and, after a bad mistake down the back, quickly pulled up his mount.
That left Energumene free to pounce on Funambule Sivola and Envoi Allen, who were battling it out at the front end, with Mullins' other hopeful Chacun Pour Soi departing at the second fence down the back.
Energumene was always travelling well, despite the very soft ground, and once Chacun Pour Soi had exited when going well toward the head of affairs at the fifth last, Townend's job appeared much simpler.
Energumene, who had lost his unbeaten record at Ascot, had last year's winner Put The Kettle On in his sights and turning in, had beaten off the mare.
He picked off Envoi Allen and once setting sail two out, it was Funambule Sivola (40/1) who gave vain chase in second, although he was soon in Townend's rear-view mirror.
The eight-year-old went on to beat his six rivals by eight-and-a-half lengths, with Envoi Allen a further four and a half lengths back in third.
Townend said: "We had gone through tactics a lot at home; myself, Ruby [Walsh], Willie [Mullins] and my father. I wanted everyone's opinion on it. It's brilliant when it works out.
"I went out to ride a race. I could see Nico trying to get a bit closer and I just had to make a decision to go.
"It was clear that Nico wasn't going from early on and I just had to ride my own race after that."
It is a first Champion Chase victory for Mullins, who was visibly emotional in the winner's enclosure after the race.
"It was fantastic," he said. "I was disappointed for the Donnellys (owners) and Shiskin and Nicky Henderson, to go out without a fight.
"You could clearly see early on in the race he wasn't happy on the ground and in the conditions.
"Then for Chacun Pour Soi, he looked to be going very well, I was feeling for Patrick (Mullins) and Rich (Ricci) and then every time you looked back at Paul on Energumene, he was just travelling so sweet all the time.
"I'm surprised I'm feeling the way I am, that probably shows how much it means to me."
Boos greeted the winner of the Cross Country Chase, Delta Work, as he denied stablemate Tiger Roll a fairytale send-off in the final race of his career.
Expected to be unsuited by the heavy ground conditions, dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll was cheered at every fence and was still in front at the last obstacle, before finally being reeled in by the 5/2 favourite.
To an almighty cheer, both Delta Work and Tiger Roll were led in together.
An emotional Michael O'Leary, owner of both Tiger Roll and Delta Work, said: "I really would have loved to see Tiger go out on a win. It's hard not be disappointed. You've a winner at Cheltenham and I'm disappointed.
"It's just a magical fairytale on ground that doesn't suit him. He's gone out on his shield, he's a warrior and that's a Gold Cup horse that has beat him and only just on ground he wouldn't like.
"I'm actually upset - I would have loved to see him win it."
The heavy rain at Prestbury Park caused drama early in the afternoon as Paul Nicholls withdrew the much-fancied Bravemansgame from the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase field due to the going.
It caused no problems for Venetia Williams' L'Homme Presse (9/4 favourite) as he set out from the front with a circuit to go and jumped his rivals into submission to hand jockey Charlie Deutsch his first Festival success.
Second favourite Ahoy Senor, whose jumping at times needed improvement, battled on for second, ahead of Gaillard Du Mesnil in third.
The sudden switch to soft conditions proved no issue for Sir Gerhard in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle as he provided Mullins with his 80th Cheltenham Festival winner.
The 8/11 favourite, who had been sent for the two-mile-and-five-furlong contest over Tuesday's Supreme, handled the step up in trip and looser underfoot conditions to see off Gordon Elliott's Three Stripe Life and Mullins' Whatdeawant, as Journey With Me departed at the final flight.
Mullins completed a treble on the day as Facile Vega became the Closutton maestro's 12th winner of the Champion Bumper, which had to be reconfigured due to the rain-soaked ground.
Gordon Elliott got his first Festival winner for two years, having been suspended during the meeting last year, as 50/1 shot Commander Of Fleet beat Fastorslow in the Coral Cup.
There was shock too in the Grand Annual Handicap Chase as 28/1 shot Global Citizen, carrying bottom weight in the two mile contest, was victorious for trainer Ben Pauling and jockey Kielan Woods.
