It’s the ding-dong battle we all wanted. Jonbon vs Energumene. Britain vs Ireland. Nicky Henderson vs Willie Mullins. Well, on Saturday in Ascot’s Grade 1 Clarence House Chase we will see who is the premier two-miler in training as the superstar duo do battle in a humdinger of an encounter. Four go to post for the feature race of the weekend and we pick out our selection here.

JONBON
(Nico de Boinville/Nicky Henderson)
A flagbearer for the Nicky Henderson yard in recent times Jonbon has been dining at the top table over hurdles and over fences for the last few seasons and the multiple Graded winner will be looking for more success on Saturday in the Clarence House Chase. The top two-miler in Britain suffered a shock defeat in this race 12 months ago when it was rerouted to Cheltenham, but he showed with dominant wins in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham and Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown that he’s still a top class performer. Currently ante-post favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, he’s been exemplary this season and having won 11 of his 13 chase starts it’s hard to not see him claiming more Grade 1 glory this weekend.
ENERGUMENE
(Paul Townend/Willie Mullins)
Dual Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Energumene is looking to bag more success on British soil and the Willie Mullins-trained star is sure to be a huge thorn in the side of Jonbon. A winner of the Champion Chase in 2022 and 2023, the Closutton inmate has struggled with injury in recent times, but after 20 months off the track he showed the fire still burns bright when he beat Dinoblue by 10 lengths in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork. Now 11 years old, Energumene is likely to be coming to the twilight of his career, but he’s shown he is a top level two-mile chaser at his best and if Jonbon falters he will be there to pick up the pieces.

EDWARDSTONE
(Tom Cannon/Alan King)
Another veteran taking his chance is Edwardstone, who has been competing in top level chases over the last few seasons, but is one that often struggles against the elite. The 2022 Arkle winner failed to kick on over fences for Alan King and has long been chasing home the likes of Jonbon and Energumene in this premier contests. Well beaten in the Shloer Chase by Jonbon earlier in the season, King’s charge was last seen finishing second in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton park, so he will need to improve on that effort to feature here.

BOOTHILL
(Bryan Carver/Harry Fry)
Three falls in his last five chase starts has seen Boothill‘s form fall off a cliff, but Harry Fry continues to maintain confidence in his ten-year-old and he completes the quartet. A fine winner of back-to-back races at Ascot last season, Boothill then struggled in Graded company and was beaten by Jonbon in the Shloer Chase back in November. He came tumbling down when travelling well in the Desert Orchid Chase last time out, so he could’ve played a starring role there, but with his jumping showing huge frailties he’s likely to be found out against some classy rivals here.
VERDICT
It’s effectively a race split into two. JONBON vs Energumene and Edwardstone vs Boothill. The former duel is where the race will be won and Jonbon continues to show his dominance away from the undulations of Cheltenham and he can get the better of Energumene here, while Boothill can pick up third spot, if he can put in a clear round of jumping.
2025 Clarence House Chase Predicted 1-2-3
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