Punchestown Report: Festival absentee Energumene bolts up in County Kildare

Energumene put behind the disappointment of a highly anticipated Arkle clash with Shishkin last month when winning the Ryanair Novice Chase on day three of the Punchestown Festival.

Handler Willie Mullins claimed five more victories on the card, taking his tally to 13 for the meeting thus far.

Recent Grade 1 successor and stable-mate Janidil was simply no match for Paul Townend’s mount, who ensured his campaign as a novice chaser would be an unbeaten one.

The Denham Red gelding was last seen taking the spoils at Leopardstown and duly secured another top-level success in County Kildare on Thursday evening.

Earlier in the card, former Supreme hero Klassical Dream made a winning return to the track in sumptuous style under Patrick Mullins, in what was his first run over three-miles and a first reappearance to the racecourse since December 2019.

He saw off stable-mate James Du Berlais, with Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle runner-up from last year Ronald Pump in third.

Despite failing to fire in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park, Gauloise bounced back to form at Fairyhouse earlier this month and went one better in the Listed contest in Punchestown, finishing convincingly clear of Joseph O’Brien’s Global Equity.

Closutton’s domination of the fixture continued as Dysart Dynamo won the Grant Thornton (C&G) Flat Race and Capodanno secured the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle.

Sully D’oc AA ensured a second British trained representative landed a victory across the Irish Sea for Anthony Honeyball, with Jiving Jerry and Sining Banjo winning the other two contests.