Energumene holds off Chacun Pour Soi in Punchestown thriller

The Champion Chase hero dug deep when he needed to, getting up in the closing stages to prevail by three-quarters of a length

JOB DONE: Paul Townend shows his delight after Energumene dug out victory in the William Hill Champion Chase, the feature race on day one of the Punchestown festival.  Picture: Healy Racing 

Chacun Pour Soi made his younger stablemate Energumene pull out all the stops in a thrilling renewal of the William Hill Champion Chase at Punchestown.

Having successfully defended his crown in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last month, Energumene was the 2-7 favourite to also make it back-to-back wins in this two-mile Grade One.