Jockey Townend on board Energumene (Picture: Getty)
Energumene defended his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown in style, with a ten-length victory on day two of Cheltenham.
It was another success at the Festival for the redoubtable team of trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend.
And it also meant more celebrations for the horse’s owner Tony Bloom, the owner of Premier League Brighton, who are enjoying a superb season in the top flight.
Energumene had only finished third behind Editeur Du Gite and Edwardstone in the Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham in January, but this was a totally different race as the nine-year-old produced a flawless display.
Captain Guinness, trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore was second, with the Paul Nicholls-trained Greaneteen in third and Editeur Du Gite fourth.
‘He was perfect everywhere, he jumped brilliantly,’ a delighted Townend said. ‘You don’t win champion races in that manner normally. He’s a pleasure to ride.’
Delta Work ridden by Keith Donoghue in action on their way to victory (Picture: Reuters)
Mullins had a 92nd Festival winner, raising the outside prospect he could reach a century this week. ‘Paul came home from the Clarence House and said, “They won’t beat us again”,’ Mullins said.
‘The horse’s work and jumping and everything in the last three weeks has been brilliant, so we just had fingers crossed for a clear round. The horse just loved the ground and loved jumping. He was brilliant on the day and Paul was brilliant on him.’ Bloom admitted the weather was a factor in this latest Prestbury Park success. ‘We were confident anyway but obviously the rain helps the horse,’ Bloom said. ‘Had it been good ground we would have been a lot less confident. The rain has been a big boon.’
Delta Work, with Keith Donoghue on board, impressively defended his Glenfarclas Chase title, as trainer Gordon Elliott took the cross-country feature for the fifth time in seven years. The 11/10 favourite won ahead of stablemate Galvin.
The Real Whacker ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies (Picture: Getty)
‘I love the cross-country race, it was great to have the one-two,’ Elliott said. ‘Both horses will now go for the Grand National.’
The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, went to Impaire Et Passe, with Townend and Mullins starting the day as they would carry on.
The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase was a thriller, with The Real Whacker edging out Gerri Colombe. It was a fairytale first Festival victory for trainer Patrick Neville.
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Langer Dan took the Coral Cup for the Skelton team of trainer Dan and jockey Harry. The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase was won by De Bromhead’s Maskada, and in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper A Dream To Share gave 85-year-old trainer John Kiely a first Festival win, with 18-year-old John Gleeson in the saddle, also enjoying a first success.
‘Did that just happen? I can’t believe it, said the teenager. ‘I ride this horse every day before school. I’ve had to park the books for a week but it was definitely worth it!’
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‘He was perfect everywhere, he jumped brilliantly.’