UPDATED 2:56PM, MAR 12 2021
Arguably the most eagerly awaited showdown at next week s Cheltenham Festival is off as Energumene will not be taking on Shishkin in the Sporting Life Arkle after Willie Mullins revealed on Friday morning that his unbeaten chaser is lame.
Energumene was as short as 2-1 for the crunch clash with Shishkin after winning his three starts over fences by a combined total of 36 and a half lengths and earning a rating of 163.
Mullins told the Racing Post: Unfortunately Energumene is lame after meeting with a setback. I don t know the extent of the injury at this stage as we haven t had him fully checked yet, but he won t make the festival.