Champion Chase

If you enjoy watching top class racehorses running and jumping at a million miles an hour then this is the race for you, especially in a year such at this where many multiple Grade 1 winners will do battle to be crowed the champion chaser at 2 miles.

Dual Cheltenham Festival hero Shishkin is set to lock horns with his Clarence House Chase adversary Energumene once more, only this time Chacun Pour Soi, Nube Negra and Envoi Allen, among others, will be looking to cash-in should that duo become embroiled in a battle too soon.

This could easily be the most competitive, and indeed entertaining, Champion Chase that we have seen in many a year. So, let’s take a look at the likely protagonists.

Shishkin

Shishkin will be looking to secure a Cheltenham Festival hat-trick following victories in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle Novices’ Chase, and his defeat of Energumene in the Clarence House Chase suggests that he is very much the one to beat.

Nicky Henderson’s star eight-year-old could harshly have been more impressive in winning the Arkle 12 months ago and the guts that he displayed at Ascot demonstrate that he has the tools for every job.

While his trainer will understandably want to dodge comparisons with those who have gone before him, Shishkin does seem to possess similar traits to Altior, who could also look uncomfortable and even hit flat-spots before clicking into gear and charging clear of his rivals.

Shishkin showed how well he can come up the hill when landing the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and if he is indeed in contention when turning for home, which is almost guaranteed barring mishaps, he should prove very tough to beat.

Energumene

Energumene was an eleventh hour absentee from the Arkle last March and therefore missed his first clash with Shishkin. But now, following his narrow defeat at Ascot, he will bid to level up the score and show the Cheltenham faithful what he is capable of.

Willie Mullins’ impressive eight-year-old won two Grade 1’s as a novice and kick-started his first campaign in open company with a smooth eight-and-a-half-lengths success in the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase.

I think most would agree that Energumene lost nothing in defeat at Ascot following a bold front-running performance and many will find solace in the fact that he actually held the lead at the Champion Chase trip, with Shishkin only taking over in the additional furlong.

We are still awaiting Paul Townend’s decision regarding who he will ride in this race as stablemate Chacun Pour Soi should also take his chance. However, if both are fit and well I would expect him to favour Energumene, as he arguably has less to prove and could still have more improvement to come.

Chacun Pour Soi

Chacun Pour Soi failed to justify odds-on favouritism in this contest last year and his subsequent no-show in the Tingle Creek Chase in December has certainly thrown into question his ability to travel.

That said, the multiple Grade 1 winner was found to be lame after his underwhelming effort in Esher and seemingly bounced back to form in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase at last month’s Dublin Racing Festival.

While the opposition may have been somewhat inferior, the manner of that success confirmed that the fire still burns brightly and it should not be forgotten that he has few miles on the clock for a horse of his age.

While the issue of travelling does undoubtedly play a factor in my assessment of Chacun Pour Soi, my chief concern this year is the level of opposition as Shishkin and Energumene are, respectfully, in a different stratosphere to what Rich Ricci’s 10-year-old faced last year.

Nube Negra

Nube Negra placed second in this race last year after claiming the scalp of the mighty Altior in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase and can’t help but feel that he may have taken home the spoils had he enjoyed a clear passage up the hill.

Dan Skelton’s pacy eight-year-old got caught up in traffic and ultimately failed by just half-a-length, beating the aforementioned Chacun Pour Soi by a length with this season’s Tingle Creek hero Greaneteen back in fourth.

Nube Negra has a fantastic record when fresh and it’s therefore no surprise that we haven’t seen the eight-year-old since a disappointing run behind Greaneteen in the Tingle Creek Chase, which probably came too soon after an impressive six lengths victory over the last two Champion Chase winners, namely Politologue and Put The Kettle On, in the Grade 2 Shloer Chase on his seasonal reappearance.

Being fresh will undoubtedly aid his prospects it the Cotswolds next week and, given his preference for decent ground, the weather may also be in his favour.

Envoi Allen

Envoi Allen seemingly had the world at his feet this time last year with many already prepared to crown him the winner of the Turners Novices’ Chase, myself included! 

However, a third fence fall led to a fall from grace and, although he won a Grade 1 last time out, there are still question marks surrounding him.

The Cheveley Park Stud owned eight-year-old underwent surgery after being pulled-up at Punchestown last April and he seemed to be returning to something like his best when landing the Grade 2 Join Racing TV Chase by 22 lengths at Down Royal in October.

However, Envoi Allen was well held when sent off a 7/4 favourite for the Grade 1 John Durkan Chase and although he bounced back to winning ways in the Grade 1 Paddy’s Reward Club Chase over Christmas, the manner of his victory was hardly authoritative.

Indeed, that workmanlike victory over Battleoverdoyen and Sizing Pottsie certainly provided more questions than answers as you’d like to think that a prime Envoi Allen would have won doing handstands. He will need to step-forwards significantly in order to feature in this race.

Put The Kettle On

It would be remiss not to mention last year’s Champion Chase heroine Put The Kettle On, who is two from three over this course and distance having landed the Arkle in 2020.

Henry de Bromhead’s star mare was game in victory 12 months ago and obviously warrants respect. However, it is slightly concerning that her three subsequent outings have provided form-figures of 435 in the bet365 Celebration Chase, Shloer Chase and a Grade 3 Mares’ Chase respectively.

That said, history tells us this Put The Kettle On saves her best for Cheltenham and it’s fair to say that her yard haven’t been firing on all cylinders this season.

Happily, de Bromhead’s representatives have started to rediscover their form over the last month or so and a much improved performance is likely, especially if the ground comes up decent. She does, however, still have the option of the Mares’ Chase on Friday.

Others to note

Funambule Sivola bumped into Shishkin as a novice last season and perhaps paid the price for trying to beat him.

That could of course happen again next week; however, he does possess the ability to sneak into the frame if ridden with that intention.

2020 champion Politologue will also hold place aspirations. While Editeur Du Gite, who has chalked-up two Cheltenham victories this season (including one over this course and distance), may try his luck in Grade 1 company and will carry the readily recognisable colours of 2014 hero Sire De Grugy.

Champion Chase 2022 Prediction

If everything goes to plan Shishkin could prove very hard to beat. The dual Cheltenham Festival winner has beat all put before him up to this point and his Ascot defeat of leading contender Energumene is undoubtedly the best piece of form in this race. 

Nube Negra should not be ignored given his record when fresh and with the weather looking favourable. While it’s hard to ignore Willie Mullins’ regard for Chacun Pour Soi in spite of the question marks against him. 

However, this may be the day for his stablemate ENERGUMENE, who could perhaps avenge the aforementioned Ascot defeat over this slightly shorter trip and on better ground. The bold-jumping eight-year-old has only had nine career starts and will have learned plenty from his battle with Shishkin.