Clarence House Chase Tips, Odds & Runners 2025

With the last two renewals having taken place at Cheltenham due to rescheduling, it can be easy to forget that the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase is one of Ascot’s signature jumps races. Run over just shy of 2m1f, it falls in a perfect spot in the season to prepare the speedier chasers for the Champion Chase in March. Here are GG’s tips from our top tipsters, as well as runners and odds.

Tips to follow

Who are the Top Three Favourites to Win this Year’s Clarence House Chase?

The Clarence House Chase has attracted the best of British and Irish in recent years. Here are three horses at the top of the division who could well take part in this year’s renewal.

Jonbon

This race provided a rare blot on Jonbon’s copybook in 2024. With Ascot abandoned, the race was run at Cheltenham for a second year in a row, though that should not have caused Nicky Henderson’s star any undue issues. However, a terrible blunder at the top of the hill ensured he could not quite reel in Elixir De Nutz come the line.

Since then though, he has won all four races he has contested, three of those Grade 1s and gained revenge for the 2023 Arkle when beating El Fabiolo at Sandown. There is no more consistent horse in jumps racing, he won at Ascot over hurdles, and is the one they all have to beat.

Energumene

The two-time Champion Chaser Energumene was the king of this division’s castle for multiple seasons, but his absence from the fray this time last year came at a crucial  juncture in his career. He is now 11 years old, so has plenty to prove against younger legs even accounting for winning on his reappearance.

He would have been given a fright on his reappearance at Cork, though it was King George hero Banbridge who was coming to challenge him late on. Energumene may have been in receipt of 8lb, but he still won decisively, proving there is still plenty in the tank for this veteran and he will appreciate going right-handed at Ascot.

Gaelic Warrior

Another right-handed specialist, this race may come too soon for Gaelic Warrior, especially as a stablemate of Energumene. However, it could be the ideal prep for a horse who does not like Leopardstown, which hosts the only other 2m Grade 1 chase prior to the Cheltenham Festival.

He has historically proven superior when racing clockwise, though has a Cheltenham victory under his belt too.

He is perhaps the most naturally talented horse who could line up in any top class race in this division with the evidence of his 2024 Arkle success still fresh in the memory. More could easily be in his locker too, and it would not be out of the question for his connections to divert him to this race late on.

Who Are This Year’s Clarence House Chase Underdogs?

The likeable veteran Edwardstone may well line up in another attempt to usurp Jonbon, though he has had a number of tries already in his career. A potential upset is more likely to come from Djelo, should he drop back in trip, as he was very impressive at Huntingdon before Christmas.

Last Year’s Clarence House Chase Odds

Jonbon went off as the 1/4 favourite, but his cataclysmic error four from home opened the door for Elixir De Nutz to spring a 22/1 upset.

Clarence House Chase Racecourse 

Ascot is known for its royal flat festival, but the jumps course is prestigious in its own right. Compared to Cheltenham, it only undulates gently, but strong travellers are favoured towards the front end of the field, as the majority of the run towards home is downhill before a slightly uphill finish. There are only two fences in the straight, so the majority of the jumping is completed early.

Are There Any Specific Clarence House Chase Betting Offers?

With the Clarence House Chase getting underway shortly, the best betting offers on the race will be available on GG.

Clarence House Chase Trends & Historic Data

The Clarence House Chase has been a tricky race to predict in recent times, particularly if you followed the trend of odds in the past two renewals. Between 2016 and 2022, five odds-on favourites justified their position atop the market, as well as an 11/10 joint favourite. Only one winner, First Flow in 2021, was not prohibitively priced, going off at 14/1.

However, in the last two renewals, 4/9 and 1/4 favourites have been beaten by 141 and 22/1 shots. It may be wise to be wary of any especially short-priced favourite, while only one winner has been aged below eight since 2016.

Clarence House Chase Horse Entries & Selections

With its position at the start of a calendar year, only horses aged five and upwards can compete in the Clarence House Chase, though it is a distinct rarity for the youngest age group to be among the participants. The maximum field size is never threatened, so any horse who is declared for the race above that age threshold will run, with mares getting their traditional 7lb allowance.

Which Trainers Have Historically Had the Most Success in the Clarence House Chase?

With the Clarence House Chase only having been inaugurated in 1989, the trainers with the moat victories are all familiar names. At the top is Nicky Henderson, with six wins overall, beginning with Big Matt in 1996 when the race was a handicap. Half of his wins came in the handicap days of the race, with three of them arriving since Grade 1 status was earned.

Paul Nicholls is only one win behind Henderson with five in all, though four of his have come in the Grade 1 era for the race, the latest coming via Dodging Bullets in 2015. Willie Mullins is already on three victories too, with Un De Sceaux claiming all of those between 2016 and 2018.

Runners & Riders Past Winners

Year	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Odds
2024	Elixir De Nutz	Collin Tizzard	Freddie Gingell	22/1
2023	Editeur Du Gite	Gary Moore	Niall Houlihan	14/1
2022	Shishkin	Nicky Henderson	Nico De Boinville	5/6F
2021	First Flow	Kim Bailey	David Bass	14/1
2020	Defi Du Seuil	Philip Hobbs	Barry Geraghty	11/10J
2019	Altior	Nicky Henderson	Nico De Boinville	1/10F
2018	Un De Sceaux	Willie Mullins	Paul Townend	4/9F
2017	Un De Sceaux	Willie Mullins	Ruby Walsh	1/2F
2016	Un De Sceaux	Willie Mullins	Ruby Walsh	1/2F
2015	Dodging Bullets	Paul Nicholls	Noel Fehily	7/2