Energumene poised to take on extended trip

There could be rather topical Easter Monday resurrection in the fortunes of Energumene when he heads to Fairyhouse for the Underwriting Exchange Fairyhouse Chase.

Willie Mullins’ dual Champion Chase hero will finally take the step up in trip he has appeared to need in his advancing years and with rain set to fall in the lead up to the Grade Two event, connections are hopeful all the correct ingredients could be in place to inspire a big performance from the Closutton stalwart.

“The intention is to run Energumene and there’s a bit of rain forecast which we hope arrives as that will certainly help,” said Sean Graham, racing manager for owner Tony Bloom.

“We decided not to go to Cheltenham and the way the ground went I think we made the right decision. It wasn’t riding on the slow side which he prefers anyway. We’re delighted we gave Cheltenham a miss.

“Hopefully we’ve found a nice race for him and if the rain arrives hopefully he can run well.”

Energumene may well be now towards the tail-end of his career, but Bloom and Mullins could have a future star on their hands in Kiely’s Place, who will run for the first time in the colours of the Brighton and Hove Albion owner when stepping up to Grade Two company on the Sunday of the Easter Festival.

Ahead of his run in the Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Novice Hurdle, Graham explained: “He ran in Patrick Mullins’ colours when he ran at Clonmel and we made enquiries as soon as he crossed the line to see if he was for sale.

“We more or less agreed a deal verbally there and then providing he passed our vet which he did and then the deal was done.

“He’s a nice young horse who put up a very nice figure when he won at Thurles, making all the running.

“He’s definitely going to be a chaser in time so anything he does over hurdles in the meantime will be a bonus.”