Clarence House Chase: Energumene has unfinished business There are four major open Grade 1 chases for two-milers in Britain and the second of them is Ascot’s Clarence House Chase, which takes place on Saturday. Run over 2m1f, there’s £175,000 on offer and the famous race has an illustrious roll of honour, including the likes of Master Minded, Un De Sceaux and One Man. Only four runners have been declared for the main event so we’ll take a look at the two big guns and offer an opinion on who is likely to come out on top. Runners and odds Jonbon @ 4/6 with Betfred Energumene @ 2/1 with Betfred Edwardstone @ 10/1 with Betfred Boothill @ 16/1 with Betfred Selection: Energumene @ 2/1 with Betfred Next Best: Jonbon @ 4/6 with Betfred Henderson vs Mullins in repeat of titanic 2022 clash Willie Mullins’ Energumene returns to the scene of his big clash against Shishkin in the 2022 renewal of this race. Similarly to this year, the pair had scared off most of the opposition and of the four runners, only two of them were in with a serious chance. The Nicky Henderson-trained Jonbon has been better than ever this year and comes into this off the back of a very impressive victory in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown. Jumping has been an issue at times but so far so good for him and big-race rider Nico de Boinville this season in that department. Edwardstone is a talented horse on his day and he won the 2022 Arkle in very good style. Winning the Tingle Creek by nine lengths on his first start the following season, it very much looked like he would be a Champion Chase candidate. More recent form suggests he has a bit to find, however, and Jonbon definitely has him covered on the form book. Boothill has fallen in three of his last five starts and appears to be a handicapper running in graded races. The handicapper is doing him no favours with a rating of 160, but the third and fourth place prize money is fairly decent here and he can fight it out with Edwardstone in the race for third. Energumene has some unfinished business Two-time Queen Mother Champion Chase winner ENERGUMENE returned after a lengthy absence in the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase at Cork last month and he managed to score by 10 lengths in the end. It’s worth noting that King George winner Banbridge was far from beaten when falling at the last, but Paul Townend’s mount was still in a good position. One would imagine he will improve for the run and we saw enough at Cork to suggest that all of his old ability still remains. This 11-year-old is getting on a bit and may be vulnerable to a pacier, younger horse, but he’s a solid jumper and looks like the play at these prices as he bids to avenge the defeat to Henderson’s Shishkin in a cracking 2022 renewal. Jonbon has most of the field covered JP McManus’ £570,000 purchase Jonbon has managed to turn a profit throughout his career and the 170-rated gelding is clearly a very talented horse. Workmanlike when winning at Cheltenham on seasonal debut, it was an improved effort when winning the Tingle Creek at his beloved Sandown after that. His four-length defeat of El Fabiolo in the Celebration Chase back in April is an excellent piece of form, although the fact that Edwardstone was only a short head behind suggests that the Mullins star wasn’t at his best on the day. Jonbon deserves his place at the head of the market here but, at the prices, Energumene could be the value against him.
