2022 Queen Mother Champion Chase

[Lobos]

Who has shiskin beaten? Very little I reckon

Theres very little between the two on what weve seen so far

Cant wait for Saturday the race of the season so far

On paper for some maybe, but it won't turn out to be the race of the season. It'll be a miss match I fear for Energumene supporters.

[Lobos]

Energumene has beat what's been put in front of him, also raced only once over hurdles (won) . 'Massively inferior' abit in harsh in that context. Hehe

Both very good horses for me.

One very good horse and one exceptional horse.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Well whatever happens on Saturday, i think it sensible to remember that Ascot and Cheltenham are very different tracks, and that March ground may well be a lot different to January ground. So unless its an absolute rout by one of them, which i really dont see happening, it should still be game on come March.

Me personally, i cannot wait for Saturday. Going to get there for gate opening time and savour the atmosphere and the build up to the race.
Pre parade ring in plenty of time to see them, and take photos, more photos in the paddock. Then think i will watch it as close to the track as possible, hopefully get some action shots of them jumping.
Excited !!!

[riccirich]

Well whatever happens on Saturday, i think it sensible to remember that Ascot and Cheltenham are very different tracks, and that March ground may well be a lot different to January ground. So unless its an absolute rout by one of them, which i really dont see happening, it should still be game on come March.

Me personally, i cannot wait for Saturday. Going to get there for gate opening time and savour the atmosphere and the build up to the race.
Pre parade ring in plenty of time to see them, and take photos, more photos in the paddock. Then think i will watch it as close to the track as possible, hopefully get some action shots of them jumping.
Excited !!!

Agree with this, you only have to look at first flow last year, but really as an energumene backer who doesn't have a cent on shishkin for the champion chase I think he needs to be winning on saturday, or at the very least only go down by a length or two.

I mean it looks like pretty much optimum conditions for energumene, is jumping slightly to his right on better ground at cheltenham going to narrow the gap to shishkin if he is beaten by him on saturday? I'd say probably not, so if he is beaten by 5 or 6 lengths on saturday i'd say the gap would only be bigger at cheltenham.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Agree with this, you only have to look at first flow last year, but really as an energumene backer who doesn't have a cent on shishkin for the champion chase I think he needs to be winning on saturday, or at the very least only go down by a length or two.

I mean it looks like pretty much optimum conditions for energumene, is jumping slightly to his right on better ground at cheltenham going to narrow the gap to shishkin if he is beaten by him on saturday? I'd say probably not, so if he is beaten by 5 or 6 lengths on saturday i'd say the gap would only be bigger at cheltenham.

Fair points there.
I would agree that Energ is more likely to beat Shishkin at Ascot, and can certainly see the probability of Shishkin winning the QM if he wins on Saturday.
But great thing is, right now we don’t know which is the better horse.

[Hurricane fly]

Agree with this, you only have to look at first flow last year, but really as an energumene backer who doesn't have a cent on shishkin for the champion chase I think he needs to be winning on saturday, or at the very least only go down by a length or two.

I mean it looks like pretty much optimum conditions for energumene, is jumping slightly to his right on better ground at cheltenham going to narrow the gap to shishkin if he is beaten by him on saturday? I'd say probably not, so if he is beaten by 5 or 6 lengths on saturday i'd say the gap would only be bigger at cheltenham.

There is a lot of what ifs, what if Townend gets his fractions wrong goes too slow at the front, Shishkin does him for toe and Energumene is coming back at him at the line for a 2 length loss.

Both would fancy themselves next time up

[Quevega]

There is a lot of what ifs, what if Townend gets his fractions wrong goes too slow at the front, Shishkin does him for toe and Energumene is coming back at him at the line for a 2 length loss.

Both would fancy themselves next time up

Townend is the key.
He went too slow on UDS a couple of years back.

I doubt Nico will surprise us and take it up early, so he will likely sit.
And I doubt First Flow will be able to take it up at any point, although if he is intent on leading then Townend may allow if for a while.
Should be a fascinating watch.

I personally think Nico will wait too long and possibly find that he cannot match the finishing speed over the last 2.
But if he is anything like the horse I've seen then he should be able to go by.

My Money's on Energumene at the prices as it seems the obvious bet to me.
But It's a close call and Shishkin should on balance win a close race.

[Atlantic Viking]

Energumene having a little Ascot wander this morning. Nice socks son.

https://twitter.com/SportingLife/status/1484483003992743937

[Craigy14]

Shishkin 4/5
Energumene 11/8

I’d say that’s priced about right now, a lot of folk going for Energumene because he was the value. I think it’s really hard to split them, Energumene will have his best chance to beat Shishkin tomorrow imo.

I slightly favour Shishkin because I think he’ll be able to go with Energumene to not let him too far in front and pick him off with having more pace. Hopefully a close finish and rematch at the festival, I’d take that if the result was the other way round. That’s what we want to see, duels between 2. Not one just running off because they were beat once.

[fatherjohn]

Shishkin 4/5
Energumene 11/8

I’d say that’s priced about right now, a lot of folk going for Energumene because he was the value. I think it’s really hard to split them, Energumene will have his best chance to beat Shishkin tomorrow imo.

I slightly favour Shishkin because I think he’ll be able to go with Energumene to not let him too far in front and pick him off with having more pace. Hopefully a close finish and rematch at the festival, I’d take that if the result was the other way round. That’s what we want to see, duels between 2. Not one just running off because they were beat once.

makes skys special of energumene 9/2 to do the double ok value. you'd think if he wins he's 2s at most

[Eggs]

….Shishkin to win both Clarence Hs/CC by over 3 lengths 4-1 with Hills.

[Markmightbite]

If for any reason shishkin bolts up tomorrow ..is there any chance energumene goes Ryanair instead? I’ve took the 30/1 shishkin CC and energumene RA double two days ago which is now into 16/1

[Faugheen_Machine]

I'm predicting this thread crashes at 3:42pm (they'll be off a couple of minutes late)

[Liammet]

If for any reason shishkin bolts up tomorrow ..is there any chance energumene goes Ryanair instead? I’ve took the 30/1 shishkin CC and energumene RA double two days ago which is now into 16/1

For anyone interested in this you can still get 30.5/1 for the double in Ladbrokes

[opatcho]

If for any reason shishkin bolts up tomorrow ..is there any chance energumene goes Ryanair instead? I’ve took the 30/1 shishkin CC and energumene RA double two days ago which is now into 16/1

I think there is a possibility of Emergumene going Ryanair if he’s beaten by Shishkin today, and it’s difficult to see a reversal AND Allaho performs badly if he runs before festival
I’m a little concerned with Allaho, he was pushed hard LTO and that could have left a mark

could happen, all depends on a number of factors which is baked into his current price for Ryanair