Cheltenham Festival News: Shishkin flops and serves up Champion Chase to Energumene
Energumene
Energumene made it 1-1 with Shishkin as Nicky Henderson's star was pulled up, leaving Willie Mullins' charge to take the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
A drama filled Queen Mother Champion Chase saw favourite Shishkin pulled up and Chacun Pour Soi unseating his rider, leaving Willie Mullins' Energumene to stay on for a staggering victory.
Nicky Henderson's Shishkin travelled like running through treacle, moving in snatches and jumping weakly and was pulled up by jockey Nico De Boinville, leaving an army of backers scratching their heads and chucking their betting slips.
The race grew in drama when Mullins' Chacun Pour Soi dumped Patrick Mullins, taking much of the weight out of proceedings but Venetia Williams' outsider Funanbule Sivola and Envoi Allen under Rachael Blackmore took up the running.
But there was only to be one winner without Shishkin and 5/2 shot Energumene, owned by Brighton and Hove Albion Chairman Tony Bloom, emerged in less than bright conditions to take a memorable victory.
The win makes it 1-1 between the chasing stars after Shishkin's win at Ascot.
