First success for jockey Willie Mullins
CHELTENHAM, United Kingdom - Energumene gave a tearful Willie Mullins his first ever win in the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday as odds-on favourite Shishkin was pulled up in the feature race on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Shishkin had edged out Energumene in a race at Ascot earlier in the season but it never looked on the cards as the Nicky Henderson-trained star was lethargic from the off.
Mullins had to compose himself as he finally secured the one glaring omission from his training laurels.
"I am delighted, it is fantastic," said Mullins. "I am disappointed Shishkin going out without a fight but he was clearly not happy.
"Every time I looked back at (Energumene's jockey) Paul (Townend) he was travelling so sweet.
"Paul played a safe game and gave him the perfect ride.
"I think I am surprised at how I am feeling but there we are. (The tears) probably shows you what it means to win this race."
Shishkin's jockey Nico de Boinville waved the white flag with five fences remaining and at the next the pace-setting Mullins runner Chacun Pour Soi came to grief.
"It was the ground," said Henderson, referring to the testing going. "He appears to be perfectly alright.
"Nico did the right thing by pulling him up. I could honestly tell going to the first fence he was not where he wanted to be," added the 71-year-old.
Townend produced Energumene as they approached the final turn.
He eased home to give Energumene's owner Tony Bloom, also proprietor of Premier League club Brighton, a perfect boost ahead of his team's match with Tottenham later on Wednesday.
It also justified the punter who had placed 150,000 pounds (US$165,000) on him to win.
"The rain really helped us, we are all getting very wet but we are delighted to be. He is a great horse," said Bloom.
"We were very excited. Shishkin pulling up made it easier but we believed in our horse."
It was Mullins's and Townend's second winner of the day, while runner-up Funambule Sivola ran a cracker for Charlie Deutsch and trainer Venetia Williams, who had teamed up to win the Novices Chase earlier in the day.
Defending champion Put the Kettle On faded before the final bend and 2020 winner Politologue gave a good account of himself in what is probably his final race of a distinguished career.
