Jamie Lynch, Senior Analyst at Sky Sports activities Racing, assesses the main candidates for one of the vital eagerly awaited races on the Cheltenham Competition, the Queen Mom Chase.
The Godfather Half Two, Aliens, The Empire Strikes Again and Professor Nut 2: The Combos. These are uncommon examples of the sequel being higher than the unique, however that is what we’re hoping for from Shishkin and Energumene’s rematch.
The fiercest hitters in our sport as soon as once more, after the rumble of Ascot that completed by three factors as a lot as a full cease, is one thing to be savored, and on high of it the assist workers is larger and higher than it’s at Clarence Home.
With normal approval, it is the race of the week on the Cheltenham Competition…
Table of Contents
all for himself
Coach: Willie Mullins
As soon as a coincidence, twice a coincidence, 3 times a sample, so they are saying. However is it actually extra of a coincidence, and subsequently a sample, that Chakun Bor Sui twice ventured to Britain (8/13 each instances) got here residence together with his tail between his legs.
If he was simple to forgive on Tingle Creek, as a result of he was again once more (and reportedly suffered a pressure), it is exhausting to forgive final yr’s chase Chase who checked out his mercy, earlier than and throughout the race, till he got here. For a time Kate Bush is operating up that hill.
The answer to the races might be about prioritizing questions, and the following question – after the massive query concerning the two large questions – is about which facet of Chacun Pour Soi we will see.
The essence of Chacun Pour Soi shouldn’t be means however compatibility, therefore the person ranking and value you place on his British crosses as as to whether it is coincidence or type. I want odds higher than 5/1.
Paul Taunin, aboard Chuckun Bor Sui, licks the latter at Leopardstown
git editor
Gary Extra
The symptom of stability is that he’s higher than ever this season, as evidenced by consecutive victories at Cheltenham, however main handicaps, and that is a wholly completely different ball recreation.
It is exhausting to imagine he’ll play such a giant function ultimately, however he can play a giant function within the race, influencing one or each of Shishkin and Energumene – doubtless messing with the latter – as a result of he’s one dimensional and can go together with an all-out assault from the entrance.
He is not going to put on the crown, however he can maintain the keys to the dominion.
Energizing
Willie Mullins
Dan Marino has by no means received a Tremendous Bowl, Jonah Lomo has by no means received a World Cup, and he has defeated Jimmy White in all six of the World Snooker Championships finals. It is too early to say that Energumene, just like the aforementioned, is the proper expertise on the mistaken time, however it could be, in the identical orbit as Shishkin.
I stand by what I stated at Sky Sports activities Racing within the instant aftermath of Clarence Home: that you may depend with one hand what number of horses from historical past Energumene would have caught at Ascot that day.
The rating on the streak needn’t outline their relationship, not but, not after one bout, not when there was 0.25 seconds between them, and never after Energumene Shishkin was on the ropes till the ultimate spherical.
The Champion Chase is a special day, on a special path, in [slightly] completely different journey. All are causes to reverse, though Energumene had benefits at Ascot that is probably not replicated at Cheltenham, mainly his full management of the race.
Energumene is a stalking large – however some stand on the shoulders of giants.
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Head coach Willie Mullins talks completely to Sky Sports activities Racing about his main opponents at this yr’s Cheltenham Competition
ship aline
Henry de Broomhead
This time final yr, neither Shishkin nor Energumene had the hype round as Envoi Allen did, however the popularity (and unbeaten document) misplaced in searching down Marsh Novices hasn’t actually been recovered since.
This season, his résumé is healthier than actuality, as neither the second division he received lives as much as a lot nor the primary division in Leopardstown over Christmas when he did a really exhausting job of eliminating his solely remaining rival in Battleoverdoyen.
Amongst him he was put into place within the true first occasion towards God and his associates.
It isn’t the horse it appeared to change into sooner or later, neither is it a standard horse, nonetheless the acknowledged plan is to return right here as an alternative of Ryanair, and there can be nowhere to cover on this prime quality, excessive depth renovation.
Screwed on the rope Cefola
Venetia Williams
The horse that ran Shishkin closest over the ramparts, apart from Energumene, was Funambule Sivola, who acquired three and three quarters of his distance within the Maghull Novices chase at Aintree final yr, though this was a watered down model of Shishkin after his large flip at Arkle.
He is undefeated this season by two miles, together with Recreation Spirit final, however he solely confronted three opponents at Newbury (led by Sceau Royal) and there was little or no enchancment wanted. He hardly qualifies as Chase’s champion actually.
He is solely seven years outdated, a chaser for season two and clearly has a ticket to a better ranking but, plus he is a extremely secured jumper, so he is within the combine for a medal however the bronze is one of the best he might be. moderately hope to.
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Head coach Venetia Williams will go away late to finalize L’Homme Presse’s purpose at Cheltenham Competition, whereas Fanion D’Estruval returns for Ryanair Chase
black cloud
Dan Skelton
There is a contact of Andy Murray on Nube Negra, with Shishkin, Energumene and Chacun Pour Soi reprising the roles of Federer, Djokovic and Nadal.
Nube Negre’s acquired the sport to suit them in on an excellent day, if the circumstances are proper…and the circumstances are proper.
He might be labeled as considerably unfortunate when he completed second within the Champion Chase match final yr, and though this upcoming version is one other league above, he did not stand idly by.
He upped his enjoying when spectacular in Shloer on his return, within the course of knocking out his final two Champion Chase winners.
He wasn’t the identical at Tingle Creek, possibly the short flip behind him, however he is since been activated for one large swing of the bat.
Within the race that may be proper for him, his excessive sprinting pace and exact leaping would make him far right into a monitor that’s clearly on his road.
The 2 large ones may need a category they cannot deal with, however I believe they will be higher than the remaining.
Put The Kettle (orange and black) on Nube Negra (left) to win the Queen Mom Chase Championship at Cheltenham in March
Put the kettle on
Henry de Broomhead
The antithesis of Chacun Pour Soi in that she saved her finest for Cheltenham, recording 4 wins there, together with Arkle and Champion Chase.
Her star seems to be waning, although, based mostly on her latest outings with a type of in Cheltenham – Shloer’s favorite – which does not bode nicely.
She says one thing that she’s focusing on one other champ, Chase, as an alternative of chasing the better Maris later within the week, however that is only a hypothetical hook, and the sensible a part of her efficiency that time period implies that the hearth has damaged out.
Shishkin
Nikki Henderson
As a stalker, he’s undefeated and but undefeated. Energumene produced a near-perfect two-mile chase efficiency at Clarence Home, filled with excellent pace, energy and method, but Shishkin nonetheless fastened it within the second spherical, regardless of being on his nostril on the sixth fence.
To give attention to the truth that it took him so lengthy to grasp Ascot’s Energumene is to underestimate every little thing he did to reverse his strikes at strain factors that may break another chaser previous or current.
Evaluating it to the secure’s double-winners for Champion Chase, Shishkin likens a fusion of each, basking within the final growth of the Alteor atop the excessive gears of the Sprinter Sacre.
It’s trite to say that will probably be troublesome to beat Shishkin, as a result of his value and document inform us precisely that, however how brief ought to he be? The percentages are 4/6, logically talking, that he would win this champ on six events if I performed him 10 instances, and for me, it is exhausting to argue with that.
Shishkin is predicted to begin as a shootout favourite for Chase
Jimmy Lynch verdict…
On the coronary heart of Champion Chase are the nuts and bolts of what occurred at Ascot within the first title struggle of those heavyweight horses and in the event you suppose Cheltenham’s completely different dynamics will assist Energumene take his revenge.
However an thought embedded in it’s that Paul Townend has choices to play playing cards when he needs, whether or not or not the identical playing cards are the identical manner as Ascot, and that is probably not the case, as they’re shaping as much as be a double-digit subject, together with some competition for the leaderboard .
The extra cheerful Shishkin was, the stronger the enemy was, the extra invincible he was. Let’s additionally not overlook that he received twice on the Cheltenham Competition, whereas Energumene nonetheless has that chest unmarked.
Shishkin He can solidify his standing as a modern-day nice, however from a monetary perspective I give attention to him black cloud Within the extra unique markets, as that is his superb enjoying subject, and within the intermission interval, he can be primed and prepared for the best efficiency by his highest secure.
