Energumene Would Have Overcome his Ascot Inspection
Energumene was confidently expected to land his ninth chase on Saturday. The Irish-trained horse has been beaten only once over fences. That lone defeat came in last season’s Clarence House Chase at Ascot.
The Willie Mullins-trained horse can still bag that valuable contest on his second attempt, as the 2023 race may be rescheduled to be staged at Cheltenham next weekend. Twelve months ago, the nine-year-old was involved in an epic duel with Shishkin. Both horses had an unbeaten record on the line, and the margin of defeat was just a length.
Dan Skelton (pictured with brother/jockey Harry Skelton) could enjoy another fruitful Saturday. ©GettyImages
Unlike Shishkin, Energumene’s career has flourished since. Racing in the colors of Brighton & Hove Albion owner and chairman Tony Bloom, the French-bred later won the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Punchestown’s Champion Chase.
Classy Star to Shine Brightest
Energumene’s Ascot assignment was not straightforward. He was due to face only two rivals, but small fields are notoriously tricky and can become a tactical nightmare for any horse and jockey.
Furthermore, his principal rival, Edwardstone, is a classy horse that won the Arkle Novices’ Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival. Alan King’s charge was an effortless winner of the Tingle Creek at Sandown on his seasonal bow but worryingly fell early in the Desert Orchid Chase over the Christmas period.
Edwardstone is also nine and, while Energumene’s star has always shined bright, this contender had a less auspicious start to his career and has already made 22 racecourse appearances. If the Clarence House goes ahead next weekend, it is the Irish horse the smart money will be on.
Skelton’s Pembroke Has Supreme Potential
Dan Skelton’s Warwickshire stables had four winners last Saturday and the trainer made another visit to the winner’s enclosure during the week. In sparkling form, it would be a surprise if more winners are not forthcoming this weekend.
From 21 initial entries, Skelton declared 13 runners for Saturday. From those, Pembroke is the most exciting. The gelding was massively impressive when winning a Ludlow novices’ hurdle a few days before Christmas.
In the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle – due off at 1.30 pm – the son of Blue Bresil faces six rivals, of which four won their most recent start. Nevertheless, Pembroke’s potential is as long as a piece of string and that makes him the obvious choice.
No New Champion in Unibet Hurdle
There is another Cheltenham trial race 35 minutes later. And it is a trial for one of the Festival’s showcase championship races, the Champion Hurdle. However, the result of the New One Unibet Hurdle is unlikely to have any bearing on the big race itself.
Epatante, the 2020 Champion Hurdle winner, trades as an odds-on favorite for Saturday’s race. However, she can be backed at 20/1 to regain the ‘big one’ in 2023. The JP McManus-owned nine-year-old is opposable at the weekend, and she may skip the Champion Hurdle in favor of the Mares Hurdle in March.
Make a Place Move for Militant
In a confusing contest where the second favorite, I Like To Move It, ran appallingly last time, playing Jason The Militant in a ‘place only’ market – something that is possible at the UK’s best online betting sites – is the suggestion.
The nine-year-old was entered in a £110,000 Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield on Friday. That meeting was canceled, and now he will make his debut for new trainer Philip Kirby on heavy-going around a different type of track.
But those conditions are of no concern as he has won on the surface three times before. And this former Henry de Bromhead Irish-trained horse is no one-trick-pony. Twice a winner at Graded level – notably a half-length third to Abacadabras in 2020s Punchestown’s Morgiana Hurdle – Jason The Militant has also scored at Listed level on the flat.
At 154, our suggestion is officially the highest-rated horse in Saturday’s 2.05 pm. And so, at 25/1, he works nicely as either a small-stakes forecast link, each-way play, or place-only proposition.
Saturday’s Best Horse Racing Bets
- Pembroke 1.30 pm Haydock
- Jason The Militant 2.05 pm Haydock
