Patrick Ward & Co. Solicitors Irish Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1)

AS he had been on his first two starts over fences, Energumene was simply a class apart from his rivals as he bossed this race from start to finish in typically bold fashion.

On his first venture into a graded race, Energumene looked like an old hand as he coasted home to hand out a wide margin defeat to a field of overmatched rivals. A 10-length triumph is testament to the overwhelming superiority of the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old who led home a one-two-three for the yard.

Shiskin’s rival

Perhaps even more significant is that Energumene posted a time that was close to a second and a half quicker than that of Chacun Pour Soi half an hour previously. From the autumn Shishkin has towered over the two-mile division on the other side of the Irish Sea but perhaps in this Tony Bloom-owned son of Denham Red he will have to contend with a rival of real substance at Cheltenham next month.

The race itself was an easy one for the 5/6 favourite who went straight into the lead for Paul Townend and proceeded to produce a display in keeping with what he had shown at Gowran Park and Naas on his first two starts over fences.

Crashed out

Captain Guinness, whom he had beaten at Naas last month, attempt to raise a challenge on the run to two out but he crashed out there which left Energumene in complete control. Indeed the favourite was still full of running at this stage and went to the line really strongly to pull well clear of previous Grade 1 winner Franco De Port with Blackbow a further three-quarters of a length away in third.

“I thought that was a hell of a performance from a novice to jump like that and take no quarter from any horse. He maybe stood a little far off the last and one other fence but other than that it was as good a performance as you’ll get from a horse having his third run over fences,” reflected the champion trainer.

“I hoped the way he galloped and jumped that he would be a two-miler this season. He looks every inch a chaser. It does look like the Arkle is going to be a race to look forward to from both sides. It’s great to have one from either side of the Irish Sea going for it,” added Mullins.