Energumene to make comeback at Cork in Hilly Way Chase

Dual champion chaser Energumene is all set to return to action in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork next weekend.

The Willie Mullins-trained 10-year-old missed the whole of last season through injury and will be bidding for a third win in the feature race in Mallow.

Due to its position in the calendar, Mullins is then considering the Clarence House Chase – the contest in which Energuemene featured in one of the most memorable races of recent seasons when beaten by Shishkin in 2022.

"The Hilly Way always clashed with the John Durkan, but now you either run in the Hilly Way or you run at Christmas. It's very tight and I’m wondering is there a question to move the whole meeting forward a week or so, it might benefit the Hilly Way, it might benefit Cork and it might benefit Irish racing," said Mullins.

"It just brings it into focus when you see the success of the John Durkan the other day. Energumene will probably miss Christmas and probably go for the Clarence House or the Dublin Racing Festival and on to Cheltenham, all being well.

"So far this year we’ve had no setbacks and we’re all set to go down to Mallow, or Cork as we call it now."

Dinoblue also looks likely to return in the Hilly Way but El Fabiolo has had a setback and is unlikely to be out much before the Dublin Racing Festival, with Mullins considering him as a possible for the Ryanair this season.

Last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner Majborough is going chasing, despite his tender years.

"Majborough is going novice chasing. We’re caught between a rock and a hard place with him as a four-year-old turning five, so it was decided he would go novice chasing," said Mullins.

"I said to JP (McManus, owner) the first day, he looked a fully-fledged chaser already as he was such a big and