2023 Champion Chase

[Lobos]

Interesting re Energumene.........

"I was a little worried passing the winning post the first time as his eye was caught by something," said Mullins, who was winning the Hilly Way for a remarkable 14th time in the last 16 runnings.
"The end result was great, but I don't know if he was feeling something or looking at the gate or crossing the road. Paul thought he was idling in front on his own, that his eye caught the gate. When he got racing down the back he was happy enough again."

Mullins added: "He loves jumping – he has a great appetite for it. You're lucky when you have a horse like that. We haven't made a plan yet. He's in at Christmas, there's the Dublin Racing Festival and the Clarence House Chase at Ascot, but we won't make any decision until we see how he comes out of this.

"Edwardstone is a very good horse. He showed that last season and is back to form again now. He's one we're not looking forward to taking on."

[darlojim]

Interesting re Energumene.........

"I was a little worried passing the winning post the first time as his eye was caught by something," said Mullins, who was winning the Hilly Way for a remarkable 14th time in the last 16 runnings.
"The end result was great, but I don't know if he was feeling something or looking at the gate or crossing the road. Paul thought he was idling in front on his own, that his eye caught the gate. When he got racing down the back he was happy enough again."

Mullins added: "He loves jumping – he has a great appetite for it. You're lucky when you have a horse like that. We haven't made a plan yet. He's in at Christmas, there's the Dublin Racing Festival and the Clarence House Chase at Ascot, but we won't make any decision until we see how he comes out of this.

"Edwardstone is a very good horse. He showed that last season and is back to form again now. He's one we're not looking forward to taking on."

Very slim chance they go again at Christmas imo, no doubt they'll put Chacun in there as he's ready to go now.

I did hear them comments regarding Energumene going past the post, but was he not just leading on the 'wrong' leg? Paul obviously felt it was nothing though, nothing to be worrying about.

[Istabraq]

Very slim chance they go again at Christmas imo, no doubt they'll put Chacun in there as he's ready to go now.

Yeah, I don't believe for one moment with horses of Energumene's ability they don't have a carefully pre-scripted plan for the year, of course abandonments can wreck those plans but generally speaking from the moment the horse comes back into the yard and starts training (July/August ?), they'll know exactly when and where he'll be going through to May.
No doubt it's a different strategy with lower standard horses who might look to nick a 0-125 hurdle at Limerick or Wexford, but not with the likes of Energumene...

[HesTheOne]

On the tingle creek, it’s interesting the Alan King post race comment's where he thanked N.Henderson for allowing Edwardstone to do some work in seven barrows prior to the race.

Not many trainers I suspect would be as helpful to their competitors.. Imagine GE & Mighty Potter going for some work on the gallops of closutton

[darlojim]

Yeah, I don't believe for one moment with horses of Energumene's ability they don't have a carefully pre-scripted plan for the year, of course abandonments can wreck those plans but generally speaking from the moment the horse comes back into the yard and starts training (July/August ?), they'll know exactly when and where he'll be going through to May.
No doubt it's a different strategy with lower standard horses who might look to nick a 0-125 hurdle at Limerick or Wexford, but not with the likes of Energumene...

Yeah exactly, I reckon they'll leave him now until the DRF and then go onto the festival and Punchestown.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Yeah exactly, I reckon they'll leave him now until the DRF and then go onto the festival and Punchestown.

Ascot might fit in well , as they did this year.
Edwardstone going to Newbury so both would have ideal races imo.

[FinalFurlong91]

Yeah exactly, I reckon they'll leave him now until the DRF and then go onto the festival and Punchestown.

Exact same 4 races as last year is what I can see him doing

[BigChaang]

Exact same 4 races as last year is what I can see him doing

I watched the post race interview of Energumene , and Willie didn't rule out going to ascot .

[Lobos]

Nube Negra ready to take on Edwardstone in Desert Orchid

[Lobos]

Edwardstone now a 170 horse after his Tingle Creek demolition. Still 6lbs behind Energumene.

[Eggs]

….Blue Lord into 6-1 CC with PP.

[Lobos]

Maybe the Arkle form ain't that bad after all !

[Faugheen_Machine]

Maybe the Arkle form ain't that bad after all !

It's starting to look that way.

[opatcho]

I think its due to 2021 being a weakish year for novice chasers. You only had Shishkin and Energumene, the former has gone down hill leaving just Energumene to contend with. Could argue the 2020 bunch werent that great either

So the Arkle bunch of last year have come out this season against weak 2m opposition or against aging types

High sight now, but wished I got more on Energumene before the season started. Oh well. Not going to give up on Edwardstone, could be some decent juice in his price given that fall and that he goes unnoticed

[opatcho]

You noticed how Edwardstone took off after unseating, he flew! Always looked like a horse that loves to travel along at pace