A fascinating contest, the result not reflecting what went on prior to the closing stages, with Energumene and Notebook taking each other on mid-race, going much quicker than par, but the former managing to see off that rival – and some! – for a decisive and comfortable win, something only a top-notcher should be capable of doing (finishing speed of just 92% from 4 out).
ENERGUMENE (c173+ here and previously) must be a really good horse to do what he did here under a significant penalty, though that would not exactly be a surprise given his novice chasing season, in which he thrashed everything put up against him. He led/disputed the lead, setting a sound pace to begin with, then an overly strong one as he was taken on by Notebook in the back straight (about 25 lengths faster in that section than the mares in the previous race, in which they were not exactly hanging around!), running that one to a standstill after 4 out and comfortably clear in the closing stages, pushed along and extending again from between the last 2, allowed to coast near the finish.
The sky could be the limit with him, but it could also be with Shishkin (still not seen this campaign), and a face-off between the two, perhaps in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March, promises to be one for the ages: this could be considered to be “advantage” to Energumene, and a much better performance than may be generally appreciated.
DALY TIGER (c153 here, 159 previously) ran one of his better races but was flattered to finish so close to one conceding him weight and ridden far more aggressively, well behind until making late headway despite edging right (then jumping left at the final fence) and getting second close home. He may have his quirks but is smart on his day, this not far off the level he showed when winning in the mud at Fairyhouse in January.
SIZING POTTSIE (c150 here, 156 previously) was set a fair bit to do but got into contention of sorts 3 out and briefly looked a danger, only for his effort to peter out, his performance including a couple of bad errors and only respectable strictly in terms of form. His defeat of Entoucas at Fairyhouse a year ago remains his best effort.
CASH BACK (c139+ here, 156? previously) was given a notably tender reintroduction, having fallen on his three most recent starts, and left something to build upon, in third mid-race and not at all knocked about late on.
NOTEBOOK (c110+ here, 166 previously) paid spectacularly for trying to serve it up to a top-notcher in Energumene, run to a standstill after disputing much of the running and going significantly quicker than par with that rival mid-race, shrugged off after 4 out and eventually eased. He is not the most consistent, but it should not be assumed from this that he has lost his form.
