Thurles run could be key to Energumene aim

Energumene may test the water over an extended trip to add a Ryanair Chase alternative to his Cheltenham Festival choices.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding, who turned 12 on New Year’s Day, is a stalwart of the two-mile chase division, with two Champion Chase titles among the 13 victories on his CV.

He began his season in the Hilly Way at Cork, a race he has won three times previously, and came home in third with two significantly younger horses ahead of him.

He is entered for the Champion Chase again come March, but the longer Ryanair Chase will also be considered and the Horse and Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles may act as a fact-finding mission for connections as they decide which contest to aim at.

“He’s not getting any younger, but he ran well in what was a tough race,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to owner Tony Bloom, of Energumene’s Cork performance.

“He has won three previous Hilly Ways but this one was probably the deepest race for him, he was up against younger horses and he acquitted himself very well.

“He’s got an entry in the Champion Chase and the Ryanair at the Festival and I think the plan is to run him in the Kinloch Brae (now known as the Horse and Jockey Hotel Chase) at Thurles in a few weeks.

“That’s two and a half miles, though he would only go there if the ground was soft, and if we were happy with him stepping up in trip, then we might go for the Ryanair instead of the Champion Chase with him.

“That will be a decision we make way closer to the time, we’ll leave the door open until a week before the race.”