Willie Mullins mulls over Shishkin conundrum after epic Energumene battle
- Planet Sport writer
- 24 January 2022
Shishkin may have won the battle but Willie Mullins will try to win the war with his gallant chaser Energumene. The next skirmish is set for Cheltenham in March in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Willie Mullins is wondering how to solve a problem like Shishkin after Energumene's valiant effort in defeat in the SBK Clarence House Chase.
The eight-year-old got stuck into a ding-dong clash during the Grade 1 race at Ascot on Saturday, going to-to-toe with Nicky Henderson's Shishkin and losing by just a length in what many have called one of the greatest of all time.
Energumene draw plaudits for his valiant effort in defeat and his trainer is now left to consider how to serve up some revenge in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March.
"It was a tremendous performance from horses and riders and our fella arrived back sound and well this morning," Mullins said on Sunday afternoon.
"We live to fight another day and I'm not so sure about looking forward to a rematch, but we are going to have to find a different way of beating him."
Energumene set his stall out early by a making all the running at Ascot and looked good value for victory until Shishkin clawed back the deficit and caught him in the final strides, prevailing by a length.
The battle between Shishkin and Energumene began in the pre-parade, locking eyes before battle.@JSCComms @sbk pic.twitter.com/lsRlYokbY8
— Jay (@TracksideJay) January 22, 2022
"Yesterday's race, it looked like we had him (Shishkin) beaten everywhere until the last 100 yards," Mullins said.
"Maybe going left-handed around Cheltenham might suit our horse better, but I don't know, and Shishkin has been there and done it.
"It's still there and there is only a length between us, so he has every chance.
"It was a very good crowd and Energumene got a huge welcome back into the enclosure and a lot of people in Ascot said they had never seen such a welcome back for the winner and the second horse.
"I think everyone appreciated it."
