IN the aftermath of Saturday’s thrilling Clarence House Chase duel, how great it is that we look to be blessed with another battle as the Champion Chase is the definite target of both horses.

The Champion Chase looks a two horse race. A length separated them on Saturday after Shishkin had put in the less perfect round, a nodding error at the ditch at half-way and a few slower jumps. Energmene did nothing wrong and there is little can be changed in his running style for a rematch. How can he pull that length back in March?

Someone commented on social media - “Willie will have a plan.” But how do you dethrone the unbeaten Henderson horse?

Shishkin is going for his third Festival win in a row and Energumene goes there for the first time. Timeform’s Chase Handicapper Phil Turner commented on Saturday’s race:

“Shishkin arguably deserves extra credit given he was always on the back foot after an unlucky peck around halfway so there could be even better to come from him. Indeed, Cheltenham’s Old Course is likely to play to his strengths more than Energumene – particularly the extended stretch between three out and two out – and we’d expect him to confirm the placings.”

Timeform moved him up to a mark of 181 (1lb ahead of Energumene) which also puts him 1lb in front of the peak rating for Altior.

The official handicapper has the winner at 177, up 5lb for his win with Energumene’s Irish mark 175. What could cause a change of result at Cheltenham?

On RacingTV’s Andy Stephens offered possible areas for Energumene to benefit from. A shorter course, Cheltenham’s track, ground, Shishkin’s ‘flat patches’.

Miracles

But you would be expecting miracles to think the ground would be anything worse than good to soft and that would still suit Shishkin.

Energumene is by the same sire as Un De Sceaux and may have a preference for softer ground. That he may be better going left-handed is also clutching at straws, there’s no real evidence, he was dominant at Punchestown right-handed.

And Shishkin did not hit a flat spot in last year’s Arkle. The two leaders Allmankind and Captain Guinness went off fast but he was only two lengths behind them at the big ditch and had joined them before three out.

Anything can happen in a race. The mistake that Shishkin made was just a stumble on landing but had that come a later stage, it could have made a difference.

The recent history of the Champion Chase also shows many winners who raced prominently. There is also the possibility of Energumene himself being taken on for the lead or pushed more than he was in the four-horse race at Ascot. Allmankind is strangely only entered in the Champion Chase, prominent runners Dunevgan and Put The Kettle On are in there too. Put The Kettle On has disappointed this season and the mares’ chase might be an option.

Big question

Third in the betting after going off at odds-on last season, Chacun Pour Soi has big question marks after that defeat last year and the disappointment and injury at Sandown in the Tingle Creek. He is entered in the Dublin Chase at the DRF, but will he run on good ground? Then he has to go to Cheltenham off the Tingle Creek run? With two strong rivals would it be better wait for Aintree and Punchestown?

But Chacun has three winless trips to Britain now, he’s 10 and against Saturday’s two heroes, and you think they might be a level above.

The British opposition is made up of Tingle Creek winner Greaneteen and last year’s Champion Chase second Nube Negra (Greaneteen then a length and a half back in fourth and two lengths covered six of them at the second last including First Flow and Notebook.)

Greaneteen is a year younger at seven and might have the more improvement. He was well primed for the Tingle Creek and won it well with Nube Negra only fourth and Dan Skelton’s horse was well beaten by Chacun Pour Soi and Allaho at Punchestown.

Of the others, Politologue looks well held at this stage of his career and it’s hard to see any of the more exposed horses stepping up.

In short, if you are of the anything can happen in a horse race mind – the best price 3/1 Energumene is there. I just don’t think he’ll reverse the form.

If the Champion Chase looks a two-horse race, the Ryanair looks a one horse contest after last year’s dominant winner Allaho won in impressive style at Cork on Sunday. It does however have a few more each-way angles.

Should he repeat last year’s rout, he would only be the second dual winner in the race’s 17-year history after Albertas Run. The race has been generally won by a horse stepping up in distance from the Champion Chase (Cue Card/Un De Sceaux), or by the previous year’s novices coming from what was the JLT (Dynaste/Uxizandre/Vautour/Balko Des Flos).

Second-season novices have a good record. Shan Blue was given an overly positive ride last year when he faded from the second last in the Marsh. He would have been a poor third in the longer Grade 1 at Aintree.

He looked to have the three-mile Charlie Hall Chase won but he still fell far enough out, at the third last. The eight-year-old has been sidelined since that heavy fall at Wetherby but Dan Skelton recently reported “we are all set and aiming for the Ryanair Chase. I don’t think we will be able to get a run into him beforehand.” How he is ridden will be interesting – would he go head to head with Allaho? He is a general 12/1.

Janidil has run over two miles, two miles four and three miles on his last three outings. Three miles looks beyond him but in the Ryanair he might have each-way prospects with his Fairyhouse Grade 1 win last year. Saint Calvados has also been put up by many tipsters and at the 10/1 available in places, it has appeal. He made ground way too early in the King George and failed to stay again. He went down by a neck in a battle with Min in this two years ago. With a different jockey and held up a bit longer, he has strong place prospects.

Envoi Allen’s aura has slipped a long way from last year and where he runs is difficult to predict with him also in the Cheveley Park ownership,

It’s a pity First Flow has not been entered as he would have little chance in the Champion Chase on Saturday’s run. He kept on well to win the two-and-a half-mile Peterborough Chase.

Asterion Forlonge is the conundrum. He was five lengths behind Chantry House in the Marsh Novices last year, and though he fell far enough out, many feel he might have beaten Allaho in the John Durkan.

A last fence faller in the King George – the Gold Cup is still a possibility and a run at the DRF should be the decider. The main benefit of going for the Ryanair, is that there are fewer fences! His owners have Al Boum Photo for the Gold Cup. He looked a tired horse when falling at the last at Kempton, could we really see two extra furlongs up Cheltenham hill be to his advantage?

Vautour went back in distance after his narrow King George defeat to Cue Card to win the 2016 Ryanair. Willie tends to run horses in the race where they are most likely to win? The problem is there was mention that the Stayers Hurdle is a possible. He is best priced at 14s, will be much shorter if he lines up. If you want to risk it before the NRNB move him to single figures.