Energumene won a dramatic running of the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins - the Irish trainer's 81st Cheltenham victory and first-ever Champion Chase.
The much-anticipated rematch between the Irish star (5-2) and Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin did not materialise as the latter never looked happy and was pulled up.
Mullins’ other contender, Chacun Pour Soi, parted company with his rider and it was Venetia Williams’ Funambule Sivola who came home in second.
Townend told ITV Racing: “I was on a very good horse and you can make it look easy then.
“He’d won on very heavy ground in Ireland so that wasn’t going to worry us.
“It didn’t work in Ascot and the tactics kind of went out the window early on as well, he was enjoying himself. I let him jump up there and just kept holding on to him.”
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