Energumene will be the star name on show in Grade 2 Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase today (Sunday) following news that the track has passed its early morning inspection.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding won this race 12 months ago before going on to Ascot in January, where he memorably gave best to Shishkin, before establishing himself as the two-mile king at Cheltenham and Punchestown.

The Hilly Way has proven a high-class conduit for future superstars for a number of years.

Sean O’Keeffe, successful on Energumene here last year, was again booked for the ride at Cork but it seems certain Paul Townend will take over, given that Punchestown is off.

Master McShee will ensure a strong level of opposition as a Grade 1-winning novice, who was also runner-up on two further occasions at the highest level behind Energumene’s magnificent stablemate Galopin Des Champs. He will be partnered, as usual, by Ian Power.

Speaking earlier in the week, trainer Paddy Corkery revealed that his stable star had suffered a few setbacks but was now working well again.

“He’s going into open company now and you have a strong line-up again but, when you look back on his form, that’s where Master McShee deserves to be,” said Corkery.

“He won a Grade 1 last season and was second in two Grade 1s. Willie Mullins says Galopin De Champs is a Gold Cup horse and the closest horse to him last year was Master McShee.”

Blackmore fans

Even before Punchestown was cancelled Rachael Blackmore had opted to make the trip to Cork, which will please the Gold Cup, Grand National and Champion Hurdle-winning pilot’s legion of Munster followers.

It also suggests that Henry de Bromhead is hoping for a good show from Epson Du Houx, making his first appearance in public since winning the Mallow Handicap Chase in Cork 13 months ago.

The five-runner contest is completed by the Martin Brassil-trained Fastorslow and Born By The Sea from the Paul Gilligan yard.

Mares Novice Chase

Cork’s card also features the Grade 2 O’Flynn Group Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase won last year by Concertista and with the likes of Vroum Vroum Mag, Listen Dear and Shattered Love among an elite roll of honour.

This year, course and distance winner Dinoblue takes on the fellow J.P. McManus-owned mare Roseys Hollow, while Colm Murphy’s current stable star Impervious is also in the mix in a competitive event.

The Grade 3 Singletons Supervalu Novice Hurdle has seven declared including the Gordon Elliott-trained Cool Survivor, Sean Doyle’s Monbeg Park, Letsbeclearaboutit for Gavin Cromwell and Hiddenvalley Lake, representing the Blackmore/de Bromhead tandem after an eye-catching maiden victory at Naas last month.

Keep it under your hat but the first 200 racegoers through the gate on Sunday will receive a complimentary Cork Racecourse Mallow beanie cap.