The Champion Chase promises to be a blockbuster with previous rivals Shishkin and Energumene looking to go head to head once more after their enthralling battle in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot. Andrew Mount has previewed the prestigious two-mile contest alongside an exclusive 888sport sign-up offer of Bet £10 – Get £45 Sign-up offer.
The Main Contenders
SHISHKIN
The race of the season so far was undoubtedly the Shishkin v Energumene clash in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 22. Energumene, able to dominate on his favoured right-handed track, looked the likeliest winner for much of that contest and traded at 1.13 in running. However, Shishkin ran him down towards the finish and was well on top at the line. He jumped out to his left that day and will be happier at left-handed Cheltenham. The eight-year-old has form figures under Rules of 1F1111111111 (11-12) and, bar a fall, it’s hard to see him not confirming the form.
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ENERGUMENE
Energumeme’s defeat by Shishkin at Ascot took his record under Rules to 311111112 (7-9) and the switch to a left-handed track is not going to make life any easier. He jumped persistently out to his right when winning at last season’s Dublin Racing Festival (DRF) at Leopardstown and he could struggle to place here if repeating that trait.
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CHACUN POUR SOI
The ten-year-old bounced back to form at the DRF but was odds-on in a weak contest and his two previous trips to Britain saw him finish third when the 8-13 favourite for this race last term and last of five when the same price for this season’s Tingle Creek. He’s another who could struggle to place despite antepost quotes of around 13-2.
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NUBE NEGRA
Last year’s gallant runner-up was firmly put in his place by Chacan Pour Soi at the Punchestown festival but is best when fresh and bounced back to score comfortably in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham’s November meeting. He was only fourth in the Tingle Creek but that race came too soon (just 20 days after Cheltenham) and he’s best judged on his record fresh (after a break of at least ten weeks) of 18B1121 (4-7). Good ground suits and he’ll have solid each-way claims on his first start for 102 days if getting his conditions.
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ENVOI ALLEN
The eight-year-old fell when 4-9 favourite for the Marsh at last year’s festival and pulled up at Punchestown after hanging badly to the left. The Racing Post described his DRF win as ‘workmanlike’ and I’m happy to oppose him whether he runs here or in the Ryanair.
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GREANETEEN
The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old ran a stormer in this race last year when a 50-1 two-length fourth to Put The Kettle On and took the scalp of Altior when 13-2 for the Grade 1 Celebration Chase at Sandown next time. His Exeter comeback run was clearly needed and he defied odds of 12-1 to comfortably land the Tingle Creek on his return to Sandown next time.
It was no disgrace to find Shishkin ten lengths too good at Kempton over Christmas and the yard’s horses were mostly underperforming when they had to send out a search party to find him at the DRF. It might be a coincidence, but he certainly has a touch of ‘OXO’ pattern and his record following a top 3 finish reads 10114234425 (3-11), with the wins coming in low-grade contests. When running fourth or worse on his latest start, his record stands at 11111 (5-5). Good to soft or quicker ground suits and, assuming his yard is in better nick come post time, I can see him running a huge race again.
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POLITOLOGUE
He beat stablemate Greanateen by seven lengths in the Tingle Creek last term but is 0-3 since and it’s hard to imagine him repeating his 2020 win in this race at the age of 11. That said, he’ll arrive here fresh and a top 4 finish is far from impossible.
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PUT THE KETTLE ON
Henry De Bromhead’s mare lost her unbeaten Cheltenham record, which included the 2020 Arkle and last season’s Champion Chase, when only third of four behind Nube Negra in the Shloer. She ran a sour race that day, dropping away before staying on again, after which she was stepped up in trip to 2m5.5f at Fairyhouse. That experiment didn’t work – she finished a 42-length last of five – and she’s difficult to support with confidence.
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ALLMANKIND
Dan Skelton’s six-year-old prefers easier tracks and it’s hard to imagine them running here instead of waiting for Aintree.
FUNAMBULE SIVOLA
Last season, I suggested that Funambule SIvola could make up into an Arkle candidate but he missed the race in favour of an easier opportunity at Ascot in late March. He chased home Shishkin when 14-1 for the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree on his final 2020/21 outing and impressed in finishing second in the Peterborough Chase on his reappearance. He got involved in a three-way battle for the lead with Tommy Tucker and Allmankind, who both dropped away to finish well beaten.
The extended 2m4f trip on the soft ground found him out here on New Year’s Day and he has since won a Class 2 handicap chase over 2m at Doncaster on good ground. His chase record over 1m7f-2m1f now reads 1121121 (5-7), with the first defeat on heavy going at Newbury in a race that probably came too soon (22 days) after his soft-ground course win. He looks to be improving at a rate of knots and is another with each-way prospects.
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QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE VERDICT
SHISHKIN heads the antepost betting at around 4-5 and it’s hard to see him beaten if he stays on his feet. However, this race still provides an excellent betting opportunity because the only others quoted at single-figure odds – Enurgemene (left-handed track) and Chacun Pour Soi (record in Britain) – look vulnerable. The three to consider each-way or in the ‘betting without Shishkin’ market are Nube Negra, Greaneteen and Funambule Sivola
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