[ad_1]
Energumene and Edwardstone remain on course for a title clash in Saturday’s LK Bennett Clarence House Chase at Ascot.
Willie Mullins-trained Energumene was involved in an epic duel in the renewal of last year, going head-to-head with Shishkin up the straight before finally having to give the best to Nicky Henderson’s runner by a length on the line.
Energumene went on to win the Queen Mother’s Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and the Champion Chase at Punchestown to seal his status as the king of the two-mile chase.
He bounced back with a bloodless win in the Hilly Way Chase in Cork last month and is favorite to beat Edwardstone this weekend.
“His energy is great and he’s come out of Cork really well. Imran (Haider), who rides him and looks after him, likes him so it’s all systems go for Ascot,” assistant trainer Patrick Mullins said.
“It’s going to be a good race with Edwardstone there too. He was Arkle champion last season and I was surprised by his performance at Tingle Creek. It should be a proper race, just like last year.
“We had a good, tough race when we lost last year, but that didn’t diminish our chances in the Champion Chase and we’re following the same route again this season.”
Alan King’s plans for Edwardstone were thwarted by the weather earlier in the autumn, but he finally returned to action when cantering home in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown at the beginning of December.
Edwardstone cleared the last fence on his way to victory at Sandown
He got no further than the fifth fence in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas though, leaving Arkle’s hero last season to go on something of a recovery mission here.
In the prospect of taking Energumene, King said: “This is what we do it for, isn’t it? That’s why I was hooked on racing as a child – some of the big battles. Class one racing should be like that. That’s what racing is all about.
“At least Energumene will be the favorite. That takes a little bit of the pressure off, doesn’t it? Look, I can only worry about the horse really and try to get him in top form and see what happens. It might be a real spectacle.”
From the initial entry of eight, only one other horse has stood for the £175,000 feature in Joe Tizzard’s Amarillo Sky.
He has won handicap heats at Cheltenham and Newbury this term, but is rated 25lb behind Energumene and 19lb adrift of Edwardstone.
Will Edwardstone vs Energumene live up to the 2022 Ascot thriller?
Shishkin beat Energumene in a thriller at Ascot last year
Sky Sports Racing’s Conor Stroud…
Last year’s epic Clarence House Chase clash between Shishkin and Energumene was highly anticipated and it was fully realized with the pair of two-mile heavyweights locking horns in the straight in an unforgettable match.
Paul Townend and Energumene looked to have the Champion Chaser holding on to the hurdles coming home after kicking off the final turn.
But Shishkin was galvanized by Nico de Boinville, edging back into the contest at the final fence before charging into the lead in the final 100 yards.
It would be Energumene and Mullins who had the last laugh, though, winning the Chase Chase on heavy ground at Cheltenham when Shishkin pulled up in the first mile of the race.
Energumene has continued his perfect run with an easy success in Cork, while Shishkin could only finish third at Tingle Creek at Sandown and will now step up on the trip.
Watch the Clarence House Chase on Saturday 21 January, live on Sky Sports Racing.
[ad_2]
Source link