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Energumene gets chance to show mettle on return to action

The Willie Mullins-trained Energumene runs in tomorrow’s Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown. Expand

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The Willie Mullins-trained Energumene runs in tomorrow’s Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown.

The Willie Mullins-trained Energumene runs in tomorrow’s Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown.

The Willie Mullins-trained Energumene runs in tomorrow’s Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown.

Exciting Energumene gets the chance to advertise his championship credentials in tomorrow’s Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding is one of five declared for the Grade One contest, after a setback forced him to miss a much-anticipated clash with Shishkin in the Arkle at Cheltenham.

The seven-year-old was very impressive in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown in February and renews rivalry with Henry de Bromhead’s Cheltenham third Captain Guinness, which was over eight lengths in arrears of Energumene when runner-up at Naas in January.

Mullins also runs Janidil, a Grade One winner at Fairyhouse’s Easter meeting.

The other Grade One on the card is the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle, with Flooring Porter bidding to record a big festival double having taken the Cheltenham equivalent.

Gavin Cromwell’s six-year-old faces 14 rivals, including Beacon Edge and The Storyteller – third and fourth at Prestbury Park. Jonathan Moore is back in the saddle after missing the Cheltenham win due to injury.

Adding further interest is the presence of fellow Cheltenham winners Heaven Help Us (Paul Hennessy) and Mrs Milner (Paul Nolan).

Across the water, Gear Up is set to put his Classic credentials on the line in the Dante Stakes at York next month.

The Mark Johnston-trained colt is a general 33/1 chance for the Cazoo Derby, after he ended his juvenile campaign with a Group One victory in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October.

Johnston has had the Group Two Dante in mind as a starting point for Gear Up for some time.

“Obviously we haven’t run him yet, but the plan is to go to the Dante and that still is the plan at the moment,” he said.

“Everything has gone fine.”

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