Cilaos Emery cut for Champion Chase

Cilaos Emery’s odds for the Champion Chase have been cut after Saturday’s impressive return win in the Poplar Square Chase at Naas. The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old was making only his second appearance over fences having defeated subsequent Arkle-winning stablemate Duc De Genievres last time out in January. And, having tracked Grade One winner Ornua under the guidance of jockey Paul Townend, Cilaos Emery surged clear before the second last fence to take the victory. Assistant trainer Patrick Mullins said: “That was very impressive for a horse with such little experience. Ornua is obviously a Grade One winner and we were getting a lot of weight. “He wasn’t going to be easy to place this year with just one run as a novice. I’m not sure what the plan is now, but he has a lot of ability and will probably be kept to two miles for the moment. “He’s only had two runs over fences and maybe it would be best to take baby steps and get more experience into him. “Today was an ideal race with just four runners and they were well spread out. His jumping has always been good.”