Racing manager Sean Graham says Energumene has responded well after a stone bruise scare and remains on course to compete in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Energumene's participation at Prestbury Park was thrown in serious doubt on Thursday night after it emerged he recently suffered a stone bruise, with the news seeing him drastically drift in the Champion Chase market.

However, the eight-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, has shown no ill-effects from that issue since undergoing some cantering work earlier this week and the focus remains on the Cheltenham Festival.

Speaking about the gelding on Nick Luck's Daily Podcast, Graham, racing manager for owner Tony Bloom, revealed everything is fine and connections have not changed the Champion Chase plans.

He said: "About five or six days ago the horse had a stone bruise and he was slightly lame, but with these things you just need to give it a couple of days.

"The shoes were taken off his front feet, we gave him an easy two days, we put the shoes back on and he cantered on Tuesday morning and he was sound on Wednesday. He did another canter yesterday morning and he was sound after that as well.

"It was just a little niggle that he got, it's just one of those things that happen with horses and you've got to expect it. 

"As far as I'm concerned now, having spoken to Willie yesterday, the horse is sound and he's going to be aimed for the Champion Chase on Wednesday."

The Champion Chase takes place on March 16 — race four on day two of the Festival — and Energumene will be aiming to get the better of Ascot conqueror Shishkin.

In the race of the season so far, the duo battled it out in the Clarence House Chase and after a tense fight up the straight, it was the Nicky Henderson-trained Shishkin that claimed the spoils by a length.

Another close duel is expected at Prestbury Park, although there are plenty of other candidates in the field that will be hoping to claim the bragging rights in the Grade 1 event.

One of those is Chacun Pour Soi, also from the Mullins yard, while Dan Skelton's Nube Negra and Henry De Bromhead's Envoi Allen are two more that could have a big say on matters.

De Bromhead also has defending champion Put The Kettle On and Captain Guinness in the race, while Skelton's second contender comes in the shape of Allmankind.

Irish trainer Gordon Elliott also has two entries for the Champion Chase at this moment in time, those being Battleoverdoyen and Hardline.