Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins are no strangers to taking each other on in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot. The Grade 1 contest on Saturday, 18 January often attracts top two-milers to Berkshire with Jonbon v Energumene serving up the latest Anglo-Irish clash in the contest.
When Ascot last staged the race three years ago, Energumene came over from the Emerald Isle and faced Shishkin. The Seven Barrows runner, trained in the county at Lambourn, beat Tony Bloom’s French-bred raider from Ireland. The question now is how will Jonbon fare against this veteran Mullins mount?
Frost forced the scratching of this fixture last season and the year before. The Clarence House Chase itself was saved, however, and restaged at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day the following weekend. After all, it is a race that Queen Mother Champion Chase horses run in en route.
Jonbon suffered defeat around Prestbury Park 12 months ago when jumping errors cost him, handing the ill-fated Elixir De Nutz Grade 1 glory. Just two others beside Energumene take on JP McManus’ runner this time around. They are horses Jonbon knows well and has a record of regularly beating in Boothill and Edwardstone.
Mullins won the Clarence House Chase three times with the mighty Un De Sceaux in his pomp. His task now is derailing Jonbon and showing Energumene, now an 11-year-old, can avenge that 2022 loss to the late Shishkin. The handicapper has just 1lb between the big two on official ratings with Edwardstone half-a-stone behind.
For further analysis of the Ascot action unfolding on this seven-race card, we naturally asked our horse racing experts. They study the form of all events on this big day before deciding on recommendations. Let’s take a look at who they like on a big day.
Clarence House Chase Day Preview from Ascot for 18 January
12:30 – 1m 7.5f Class 3 Juvenile Hurdle
Probably hard to find an angle to exploit on horse racing betting sites as ante-post Triumph Hurdle favourite LULAMBA make his UK debut. Purchased from France after an easy Auteuil victory in October, he now represents the same connections as Sir Gino. The fifth has scored since, but it is not such what Lulamba beat as the manner of his success.
For those keen to oppose such a well-regarded favourite, the classiest Flat recruit is another French import in Mondo Man. Now with Gary & Josh Moore, previous connections thought him good enough to run in the Prix du Jockey Club and at Royal Ascot. Mondo Man wasn’t disgraced in either the French Derby or the King Edward VII running fifth and fourth. He receives 10lb in weight from Lulamba, but lacks hurdles experience.
Of the others, two have wins in this sphere, but Moutarde and Viyanni have more on their plate now. The former carries the same 10lb penalty as Lulamba, but is way more exposed as a hurdler. Viyanni did enough to win at Market Rasen, but a lowly Flat mark of 73 pales to the 111-rated Mondo Man.
1:05 – 3m Class 3 BetMGM Handicap Chase (0-140)
The eye is immediately drawn to in-form bottom weight ROCKINASTORM seeking his hat-trick. Henry Daly’s eight-year-old has only gone up 5lb with the handicapper for consecutive victories. Against out of form opposition on the Clarence House Chase day card, Rockinastorm can go in again.
David Maxwell seeks to follow-up aboard In d’Or for Venetia Williams. As the amateur jockey and owner has finally ridden out his claim, his horse now has effectively 9lb more on its back for a successful chasing debut around Taunton. That makes things tougher. Topweight Annsam is back down to his last winning mark, but has the welter burden of 12st 2lb here.
Unanswered Prayers drops back in trip after not staying the London National distance at Sandown. Chris Gordon again calls on son Freddie for the ride, but his claim is down from 5lb to 3lb since he last sat on this one. The long absent Pats Fancy surely needs the run, while Grand National fifth Kitty’s Light wants way further.
1:40 – 1m 7.5f Grade 2 BetMGM Mares’ Hurdle (Registered as the Warfield)
A new much shorter distance for the graded mares only race on the Clarence House Chase card from now on. Spring Juvenile Hurdle and Champion Four Year Old heroine KARGESE sets a clear and obvious form standard with those efforts bookending second places in the Triumph Hurdle and Aintree equivalent.
The only chink in her armour is she needed her first run for Mullins last season. Paul Townend comes over for the ride on Kargese, however, and she tops official ratings. Dan Skelton’s Take No Chances wants further than the revised trip of the Warfield really, but won in Listed company around Wetherby in the autumn. She kept on into third over 2m 4f at Cheltenham last month, yet may get away with the sharper trip.
Since chasing home Golden Ace in a Listed race last spring, Ooh Betty has won two of her three starts. Both successes came at a much lower level than the red-hot favourite with online bookies, but Ben Clarke’s mare clearly goes well right-handed. Ooh Betty could pinch a bit of Black Type with Casa No Mento and Pawapuri both disappointing lately.
2:15 – 2m 5f Class 2 bet365 Handicap Chase
The favourite KOTMASK crosses the line first in The Howden Handicap Steeple Chase! @quinn_caoilin with a brilliant ride in a close field.#Ascot #HorseRacing pic.twitter.com/i4jFzefVYu
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) December 21, 2024
There are three old rivals to concentrate on in this event from the Clarence House Chase day card who tie in closely together. Martator is a proper Ascot specialist, winning three times in 2024 over 2m 1f here. This season alone he is up 17lb with the handicapper, however, and Ned Fox can only claim 3lb now.
Twice placed behind Venetia Williams’ charge at the track and shaping as though further would suit was KOTMASK, who duly came out and scored over 2m 3f. He is 10lb better off with Martator from their Hurst Park meeting. At the same time, Kotmask is in turn 3lb worse off with Scarface who re-opposes from the December clash.
The head-to-head record between Joe Tizzard’s charge and the Moore family horse is 2-0 to Kotmask. He thus shades the vote. Topweight Hitman puts both the busily campaigned Tedley and Bad, who has first-time blinkers here, out of the handicap. Flegmatik, meanwhile, has an ease in grade after running in races where he simply couldn’t land a blow.
Lucy Wadham mare Terresita looks a big price off 2lb better terms with Scarface and if reproducing her Listed heroics from Carlisle. She faced an impossible task conceding 7lb to subsequent December Gold Cup hero Gemirande when third over this course and distance last time out.
2:50 – 2m 3f Class 2 Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle
There are some dubious and mercurial types in the line-up. Those who fall into this category include topweight Goshen and Bo Zenith’s stable companion Doddiethegreat. Fergal O’Brien runs two with Kamsinas the clear pick of those after his staying on fourth at Haydock Park races last time.
Those placed in last season’s Betfair Exchange Trophy are worth a closer look too. Altobelli came third for Harry Fry that day off the same mark and the re-opposing fourth, Moveitlikeminnie, is a big price off 5lb lower. The latter goes from a staying on fourth carrying 12st in a low grade race here upped in trip as the last one running from within the handicap.
3:32 – 2m 1f Grade 1 Clarence House Chase
Energumene is the clear next best for Townend, Mullins and Bloom. Of an age with Edwardstone, he returned from a season off with victory in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork. Energumene couldn’t beat Shishkin here three years ago and may suffer the same fate at the hands of Jonbon.
The one with the most course form is Boothill, but all that was achieved in handicaps. Fry’s runner has also developed a worrying habit of falling with three tumbles in his last five starts. There is little evidence that either Boothill or Alan King veteran Edwardstone can stop their vaunted rivals.
4:02 – 2m 5.5f Class 3 National Hunt Novice Hurdle
Country Park has seen the form of his Cheltenham maiden hurdle second work out really well with the winner and fourth both scoring since. This longer trip helps his cause and, granted a clear round, should see him home in front. All of those carrying a penalty are dangers, however.
I’m A Lumberjack and U Can’t Be Serious tie in closely together with each finishing in front of the other in Listed bumpers last season. Jax Junior made all in facile fashion at Doncaster last time out, so he might prove the biggest threat. With The Bluesman a non-runner, the other couple need career bests just to get near the frame.
