by Carl Evans honours at this year’s Cheltenham Festival. ‘This should not be missed’ Meanwhile, in a real show of confidence in British point-topoint form, the brilliant two-mile chaser Energumene was bought by Ireland’s champion trainer Willie Mullins after the horse had won a point at Larkhill aged four. Energumene was recently involved in one of the great clashes of recent times, when he took on and was narrowly beaten Time Lucki, who finished by the mighty Shishkin at Ascot second in a point-to-point for (to see it, play the ‘Shishkin vs Warwickshire trainer Fran Poste, Energumene | A Clash for the and has since become a star for Ages’ video, above right - it’s Dan Skelton. just over two “Energumene was minutes long, recently involved A new way and incredibly in one of the great In 2006 four-yearexciting). horses were Their hoped-for clashes of recent old allowed to run in rematch in the times, when he British point-toQueen Mother took on the mighty points, and while Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Shishkin at Ascot” their numbers fluctuated over the Festival is one that next ten years, a Herefordshire should not be missed. point-to-point trainer called Tom Another Cheltenham Festival Lacey emerged with a gamehorse to watch out for is Third Ahoy Senor (Alex Edwards) leads on his way to a win at Kimble, Bucks, in November 2020 Image Carl Evans
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changing plan. Copying a form of trading popular in Ireland, Lacey began sourcing well-bred three-yearolds, breaking them in and educating them to jump with aplomb, and then selling them after they had run in one or two point-to-points. One reason this form of trading was proving successful was a growth in specialist sales of young point-to-pointers held at several venues, but particularly at Cheltenham racecourse. These sales drew in well-heeled owners keen to buy horses who could
