Energumene got his open chasing career off to a brilliant start in the Grade 2 Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase 12 months ago and it is no surprise that trainer Willie Mullins opts for the same target, given how his charge’s campaign unfolded subsequently.

The Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase has proven a high-class conduit for future superstars for a number of years, with Energumene the latest to emerge.

While he would suffer what remains his only chasing reverse in the Clarence House Chase after an effortless triumph in Cork 12 months ago, the Tony Bloom-owned eight-year-old would go on to win the Champion Chase at Cheltenham and bring his career tally of Grade 1 successes over the larger obstacles to four at Punchestown the following month.

Sean O’Keeffe will hope that his first time getting the leg up since doing the steering last year will lead to a similar result but Master McShee will ensure a strong level of opposition as a Grade 1-winning novice, who was also runner-up on two further occasions at the highest level behind Energumene’s magnificent stablemate Galopin Des Champs. He will be partnered, as usual, by Ian Power.

Speaking earlier in the week, trainer Paddy Corkery revealed that his stable star had suffered a few setbacks but was now working well again, though he might need the run given that as a permit-holder, he would not have the to measure a horse’s fitness against that would exist in Closutton.

He does, however, believe in the calibre of Master McShee, who runs in the colours of his wife, Deirdre.

“He’s going into open company now and you have a strong line-up again but when you look back on his form, that’s where Master McShee deserves to be,” said Corkery. “He won a Grade 1 last season and was second in two Grade 1s. Willie Mullins says Galopin De Champs is a Gold Cup horse and the closest horse to him last year was Master McShee.”

It is notable that Rachael Blackmore opts to make the trip to Cork, which will please the Gold Cup, Grand National and Champion Hurdle-winning pilot’s legion of Munster followers. It also suggests that Henry de Bromhead is hoping for a good show from Epson Du Houx, making his first appearance in public since winning the Mallow Handicap Chase in Cork 13 months ago.

The five-runner contest is completed by the Martin Brassil-trained Fastorslow and Born By The Sea from the Paul Gilligan yard.

Cork’s stellar card also features the Grade 2 O’Flynn Group Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase won last year by Concertista and with the likes of Vroum Vroum Mag, Listen Dear and Shattered Love among an elite roll of honour. This year, course and distance winner Dinoblue take on the fellow JP McManus-owned mare Roseys Hollow, while Colm Murphy’s current stable star Impervious is also in the mix in a competitive event.

The Grade 3 Singletons Supervalu Novice Hurdle which has seven declared including the Gordon Elliott-trained Cool Survivor, Sean Doyle’s Monbeg Park, Letsbeclearaboutit for Gavin Cromwell and Hiddenvalley Lake, representing the Blackmore/de Bromhead tandem after an eye-catching maiden victory at Naas last month.

Subject to a precautionary inspection at 12pm tomorrow, racing gets under way at 12.15pm, in the Bar One Racing 3YO Maiden Hurdle and the first 200 racegoers through the gate on Sunday will receive a complimentary Cork Racecourse Mallow beanie cap.