Energumene team would welcome Cheltenham rain with open arms

Energumene has already thrived twice at the Cheltenham Festival and his team are now willing the weather gods to play their part as he strives to become just the second three-time winner of the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Willie Mullins had never won the two-mile championship until Energumene turned the tables on his Ascot conqueror, the misfiring Shishkin in 2022, and despite defeat in his Festival tune-up the following year, he roared to back-to-back triumphs when 10 lengths clear of Captain Guinness.

Injury curtailed the chance of a Champion Chase hat-trick in 2024, but he is back for a belated treble bid 12 months later, where his ageing legs will attempt to replicate the achievements of Badsworth Boy in the 1980s.

Owned by Brighton & Hove Albion chief Tony Bloom, Energumene again fell victim to a Nicky Henderson superstar in this year’s Clarence House Chase when playing second fiddle to Jonbon.

However, history has taught punters not to underestimate Energumene at Prestbury Park, with connections imploring the weather forecasters to change their minds and predict a deluge to ensure favoured soft ground.

“He’s been fine since Ascot and his training has been going well, but he’s an 11-year-old and the weather forecast is probably not in our favour,” said Sean Graham, Bloom’s racing manager.

“We really want a few showers and the ground on the soft side to have a real chance, but there is no doubt he’s in good form and Willie has been happy with him and he will go over there to take his chance.

“I don’t think this horse has always got the credit he deserves and they always mention how Shishkin was pulled up when he won his first and the race fell apart again a year later, but you can only beat what is put in front of you.”

Not only is Jonbon standing in Energumene’s way once again, but the trends are also against him – as not since Moscow Flyer in 2005 has an 11-year-old obliged, with the only other winner of that age being Skymas in 1976, although Brian Lusk’s charge did follow up at 12 the next season.

“Many, many good horses have won the Champion Chase and Badsworth Boy is the only one to win three of them and that shows you how tough it is,” continued Graham.

“Father Time is probably against him, but he’s relatively lightly raced and has only had 17 runs – he hasn’t had a hard life.

“Before Moscow Flyer, you have to go back to Skymas for the last 11-year-old to win it. But I think conditions will play a huge part, as the drier the ground, the better the chance Jonbon will have, but the wetter it gets, I think there will be a few who will fancy their chances against him.”

Energumene could be the ace in Bloom’s select Festival team, but the Premier League chairman – who during his poker playing days was nicknamed ‘The Lizard’ – could have a trump card to play in the handicaps in Bunting.

Like Energumene, he is trained by Mullins and the five-year-old, who has been seen just once this season, has attracted plenty of support in the County Hurdle market over the last few days after Ruby Walsh mentioned his credentials on TV.

Graham added: “He’s entered in three of the handicaps, I spoke to Willie and he said he was half-favouring the County but no firm decision had been made yet.

“He was a bit unlucky in his only outing this year at Clonmel. He made a really bad mistake but got back into the race and then I think a lack of race fitness told against him at the finish.

“These four-year-olds turning five often struggle this year and to go to the Festival and win is a big ask, the handicapper just always seems to be hard on them. Unless you are absolutely top class, the only races for you are the handicaps and there never seems to be any respite from the handicapper.

“He’s in good form and is working well and has a chance, but there is probably going to be 10 more in the County Hurdle better handicapped than Bunting, I would have thought.

“There will be a few laid out for the race who might have a few pounds up their sleeve, but he will be going there fit and well.”

There is a potential wildcard who could play his way into Bloom’s Festival hand in Poniros, a handy recruit off the Flat.

He holds an entry in the Triumph Hurdle, with connections not afraid of seeing the one-time Royal Ascot hope make his jumping debut in the Gold Cup day Grade One if he keeps pleasing the key figures at Closutton.

Graham said: “Poniros might go and he’s one of those horses – Willie has four or five of them that haven’t run over hurdles yet but have an entry in the Triumph – that has a chance of running in the race.

“It would be aiming high on his first run but it will be a good experience for the horse and if he runs OK, then the temptation will be to keep him to the Flat this summer and as a novice over hurdles for next season.”