Willie Mullins has finally trained a winner in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Paul Townend was on board Energumene to land the feature on day two of the Cheltenham Festival for the Kilkenny trainer.
The 8-year-old went off at a starting price of 5/2 in Wednesday's feature.
In the blue silks of Tony Bloom Townend came home ahead of Charlie Deutsch on Funambule in second, with Envoi Allen under Rachael Blackmore third.
The highly-anticipated showdown between him and the Nicky Henderson trained Shishkin never came to be with the heavy favourite having to be pulled up by jockey Nico de Boinville.
Henderson said after that he couldn’t cope with the heavy ground, with heavy rain at Prestbury Park throughout the morning and into the afternoon.
ELECTRIC ENERGUMENE!
He strides clear after SHISHKIN pulls up to win the @Betway Champion Chase 🏆 pic.twitter.com/DjmS2BJClY
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 16, 2022
It wasn't to be either for Mullins' Chacun Pour Soi and his nephew Patrick who suffered a fall.
Speaking to Racing TV after Mullins had mixed emotions.
"It wasn't about tactics so much.
"Shiskin just didn't handle that ground so Nico [de Boinville] wisely pulled him. I was disappointed to see Chacun Pour Soi going out of the race early.
"As all stages Paul [Townend] was just travelling, the horse loving conditions here.
"These extreme conditions probably suit him better."
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