Energumene is now the odds-on favourite to defend his Queen Mother Champion Chase title at Cheltenham in March after a bloodless winning comeback at Cork on Sunday.
Carrying the colours of Brighton & Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom, the Willie Mullins-saddled eight-year-old justified odds of 1-9 by 15 lengths for a repeat success in the Grade Two Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase.
Energumene is now a general 4-5 (from 5-4) market leader – William Hill go even-money – for Cheltenham’s Wednesday feature, and Mullins said: “It’s a relief to get it out of the way.
“He was fit enough. He’s a horse you don’t have to work – he’s keen and he loves getting on with his job every morning.
"I was a little worried passing the winning post the first time as his eye was caught by something. The end result was great but I don't know if he was feeling something or was looking at the gate or crossing the road, but definitely I wasn't happy with the way he went around the bend passing the stands.
"Paul thought he was idling in front - he was probably in front on his own and there was nothing to make him race. He loves jumping, has a great appetite for it and you are lucky when you have a horse like that.
"We won't make any plans, he is in at Christmas, at the Dublin Racing Festival and the Ascot race is there but we won't make any decision until we see how he comes out of this."
Energumene is the 4-5 (from 5-4) favourite with Coral for a repeat success in the Queen Mother Champion Chase following his success.
"Energumene has responded to Edwardstone's Tingle Creek triumph with his own winning return, and although he was expected to win the Hilly Way Chase, he has done so in a manner that strengthens his position as the one to beat in March's big two-mile showpiece," said Coral's David Stevens.
Coral's latest betting for the Queen Mother Champion Chase is: 4-5 Energumene, 11-4 Edwardstone, 12 Shishkin, 16 Gentleman De Mee, 20 Greaneteen
Meanwhile, Henry de Bromhead says Honeysuckle could bid for a second triumph in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham rather than seek a Champion Hurdle hat-trick after her first career defeat in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle last Sunday.
“My job is to try and find the race she can win, he said.”
Nicky Henderson has revealed Shishkin is receiving treatment for a back issue after he returned “sore” from his third in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park nine days ago.
