Punchestown Festival day three | Klassical Dream & Energumene star in Willie Mullins 299/1 five-timer
By Sporting Life
20:13 · THU April 29, 2021
A review of all the action from day three of the Punchestown Festival as Energumene and Klassical Dream starred in a Willie Mullins-trained five-timer.
Energumene among five for Mullins
Energumene claimed his second Grade One triumph with a smooth performance from the front in the Ryanair Novice Chase.
Paul Townend enjoyed something of an armchair ride on the 2/5 favourite, who was last seen winning the Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival, before missing the Sporting Life Arkle at Cheltenham due to a late setback.
Captain Guinness, 13 lengths behind Shishkin when third in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham last month, was at least 20 lengths adrift when he unseated Rachael Blackmore at the final fence, and Energumene crossed the line 16 lengths in front of Janadil without being asked a serious question.
“He’s class, it’s an absolute privilege to ride him,” Townend said. “To get that feeling over two miles in chases twice in one week [after winning on Chacun Pour Soi on Tuesday] is like Christmas coming again. He’s entitled to go over and take everything on [next season]. They [Energumene and Shishkin] are going to meet at some stage and it will be a cracking spectacle.”
Henry de Bromhead’s charge aiming to supplement Gold Cup heroics. By Press Association Thursday 22 Apr 2021, 3:20 PM 4 hours ago 1,391 Views 0 Comments
CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP hero Minella Indo will face a maximum of 10 rivals when he bids to follow up at Punchestown on Wednesday.
Henry de Bromhead’s charge led home stablemate A Plus Tard to win the blue riband at Prestbury Park last month under Jack Kennedy, who will once again be on board in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup next week.
The eight-year-old is set to renew rivalry with the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Al Boum Photo and Kemboy.