Six-time Grade 1 winner Energumene will make his long-awaited return to action in the €100,000 Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase at Cork Racecourse this Sunday, December 8th 20204. The meeting, which promises to deliver some fantastic action, will mark Energumene’s eagerly awaited return after a 593-day layoff and his bid for a third victory in Cork’s showcase jump race.
The Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase, one of the highlights of the pre-Christmas schedule, will boast the largest field since 2018, with eight runners due to go to post.
Energumene, trained by Willie Mullins, will be reunited with his regular jockey Paul Townend as he looks to extend Mullins’ remarkable record in the race. Mullins has claimed victory in the Hilly Way Chase every year since 2007, with the exception of 2012 and 2018.
Ireland’s champion trainer, will be represented by six of his Closutton string in Sunday’s feature, including the highly rated Hunters Yarn and four other Grade 1 winners Dinoblue, Ferny Hollow, Appreciate It, and Blue Lord. Patrick Mullins, champion amateur rider, will take the ride on Ferny Hollow, while Mark Walsh will partner Dinoblue for owner JP McManus. Danny Mullins is set to ride Appreciate It, while Brian Hayes will team up with Hunters Yarn.
While the Mullins-trained contingent looks formidable, there will be stiff competition from Joseph O’Brien and John Queally, both of whom will attempt to end Closutton’s dominance of the race.
Queally will saddle the impressive Cork winner The Banger Doyle, while O’Brien will send out the extremely talented Banbridge, who has already landed victory in the Grade 1 William Hill Champion Chase at Punchestown in a thrilling race.
In addition to the Hilly Way Chase, Sunday’s card will also feature a host of competitive races, including the Grade 2 Coolmore NH Sires Order Of St George Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase, which has attracted a field of eight runners. Con O’Keeffe, last year’s winning trainer with Silent Approach, will be represented by Kilbarry Saint in the race. Meanwhile, Zenta, who finished third behind Silent Approach last year, returns for another crack at the race with stable companion Karia Des Blaises.
Recent winner Nara, trained by Henry de Bromhead, will also be an interesting contender, as will A Law Of Her Own, a consistent performer trained by Peter Fahey and the mount of last year’s winning jockey, Danny Mullins.
Another highlight of Sunday’s card, which will be live on RTÉ from 1pm, is the Grade 3 Singletons Supervalu Stayers Novice Hurdle. Eight different trainers have won the Singletons Supervalu Stayers Novice Hurdle in the last eight years and this renewal will see Gordon Elliott’s Minella Sixo headline a field of six runners.Willie Mullins will be double-handed in this Grade 3 contest with Luckinthecity and Just For Love. The other three runners are all locally trained contenders. Jonathan Sweeney’s Churchroad Prince is trained in Kildinan, County Cork, while recent 40/1 winner Therellbguddaysyet is trained by Michael O’Connor in Charleville. Kilworth’s Desmond Kenneally would be celebrating the biggest success of his training career if Pray Tell could follow up his Listowel win and carry his colours to victory in Sunday’s Grade 3 contest.
A great day of racing will begin at 12.03pm with the Bar One Racing 3YO Maiden Hurdle and conclude at 3.25pm with the Greenvalley Transport Novice Handicap Hurdle which has attracted a full field of 24 runners.