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Clarence House Chase Runners 2025 – Energumene and Jonbon on Collision Course for Ascot

Only six entries have been made for the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday, 18th January, but the race could provide one of the clashes of the pre-Cheltenham season as both Jonbon and Energumene feature among the sextet.

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Running in the colours of JP McManus for Nicky Henderson, Jonbon has won 16 and finished second thrice from his 19 starts under rules. A remarkably consistent horse, he added yet another Grade 1 to his trophy cabinet when scoring routinely in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown last month, but was surprisingly turned over at 1/4 in this race last year by 22/1 shot Elixir De Nutz. That renewal was moved to Cheltenham due to Ascot’s abandonment the week before.

However, this promises to be held this weekend with a decent forecast and should be a stronger running if Energumene turns up. He was also beaten at odds-on in a Clarence House Chase when only third to Editeur Du Gite in 2023, but that was also run at Cheltenham, and the two-time Champion Chaser is often even better going right-handed.

Now an 11-year-old, he will be hoping to regain former glories after a successful reappearance, though connections of Jonbon will be confident of yet another success, especially as the Henderson yard enjoyed a couple of notable victories in head-to-head clashes against Willie Mullins’ team in December.

The remaining quartet are headlined by the improving Libberty Hunter for Evan Williams. He is rated 19lb Jonbon’s inferior, but was placed in a Grade 1 as a novice chaser last season, as well as finishing second in the Grand Annual at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. The nine-year-old also scored impressively on his reappearance and looks an improving type who could serve it up to the leading duo.

Both Boothill and Edwardstone are standing orders in 2m Grade 1s in Great Britain, but neither is yet to land a serious blow against Jonbon, while Dan Skelton’s Unexpected Party was behind that pair and Jonbon in the Shloer Chase earlier in the season and makes up the field.

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Clarence House Chase 2025 Runners

NumberHorseTrainer
1BoothillHarry Fry
2EdwardstoneAlan King
3EnergumeneWillie Mullins
4JonbonNicky Henderson
5Libberty HunterEvan Williams
6Unexpected PartyDan Skelton
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