January 27 / 14.25 Cheltenham

14.25

Good To Soft

My Pension Expert Clarence House Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £59797.5
  • 2m 0f 62y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
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My Pension Expert Clarence House Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 44-541 CD

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 162

Form & Verdict
Front-running chaser who was soundly beaten in races won by Elixir De Nutz and Jonbon in November; right back to form at Kempton (good to soft) last month, defying top weight to beat Nube Negra for a second success in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid (now a handicap); that tees him up perfectly for another crack at the Clarence House, whic/h he won gamely here last year; 3-7 at Cheltenham.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 2

14:40 Doncaster

Editeur Du Gite

10st 13lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

led, headed then prominent 5th, pressed leader before 4 out, weakened after 4 out

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2-5113 C

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 156

Form & Verdict
Very useful chaser who has done well in high-quality handicaps (good to soft) this term, winning at Exeter (Haldon Gold Cup) and Newbury then respectable third to Editeur Du Gite at Kempton (Desert Orchid Chase); now worse off with that rival and appears unlikely to reverse the placings but should give his running in current form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

27th Apr 2024

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Elixir De Nutz

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

10yo who has been better than ever this season; soft ground was against him in the Champion Chase and prior to that he beat Jonbon by a neck to win the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft); however, the runner-up was well below his best; others make greater appeal.

50/1

5

27th Apr 2024

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Elixir De Nutz

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

10yo who has been better than ever this season; soft ground was against him in the Champion Chase and prior to that he beat Jonbon by a neck to win the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft); however, the runner-up was well below his best; others make greater appeal.

50/1

5

13th Mar 2024

Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

15:30 Cheltenham

Elixir De Nutz

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Often a front-runner; has won on soft but seems ideally suited by good/good to soft; rallied gamely to beat odds-on Jonbon in the rescheduled Clarence House here in January, making it three wins from his last four starts; however, looks far from sure to confirm placings with that otherwise superior rival who blew his chance with a dodgy round of jumping; in great form this term but needs better still to land a Champion Chase.

25/1

Form: 225-41 C

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
Has a consistent record in handicaps at Cheltenham, mainly over 2m4f; the cards dropped perfectly in the December Gold Cup (soft) most recently, coming off a good pace to nose ahead in the final strides; has plenty of ability but doesn't appear to be crying out for the return to 2m, and this race isn't sure to pan out so favourably.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

15th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 203y

Class 1

14:40 Haydock

Fugitif

11st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Richard Hobson

No win since late 2023 and he hasn't got a lot going this season; he had run well but looked on the retreat when unseating in Outlaw Peter's race here 11 days ago (visor replaced usual cheekpieces).

12/1

5

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Fugitif

11st 5lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Richard Hobson

Winless since December 2023 and hasn't posed a serious threat this season; however, he was best of the rest behind easy winner Guard Your Dreams at Warwick (2m4f, heavy) last time and continues to drop down the weights; handles various ground; not ruled out in first-time visor (replacing cheekpieces).

8/1

2nd

3

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Warwick

Fugitif

11st 5lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Richard Hobson

Quirky customer who is without a win since December 2023 and has become frustrating; that said, he ran well for a long way in a valuable Ascot handicap (2m5f, soft) three weeks ago and is another 4lb lower here.

15/2

Form: 211-11 C

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 170

Form & Verdict
Progressive every season; has justified very short odds in the Shloer at this venue and Tingle Creek at Sandown this season, cementing his Champion Chase credentials and taking overall record to 13-15 (7-8 as a chaser); his only defeats were at the hands of similarly distinguished rivals at the last two Cheltenham Festivals; versatile ground-wise; top on ratings and comfortably surpasses these older rivals in terms of strike-rate.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Jonbon

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Has maintained an incredibly high standard in Grade 1s over 2m but, although he has won here, his rare reverses have come on this track; no longer quite the speedster he used to be at 2m and the extra stamina test was a help when winning at Ascot (about 2m5f, good to soft) last month, where he could have settled for second had his enduring will to win not come to his aid; now defends a strike-rate of 3-3 at about this trip but it remains to be seen whether he can rise to this very big occasion.

13/2

1st

5

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Jonbon

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Acts on any ground; yet to finish out of the first two; formerly dominant at shorter but has lost a bit of his speed and was aided by the stiff test over the 2m1f trip at Ascot (soft) most recently, recording a second success in the Clarence House and 11th Grade 1 win; seems to be crying out for this step back up in distance and, still high class at the age of ten, may well add to his impressive tally; 2-2 over 2m4f, both in the Melling at Aintree; cheekpieces worn in last two starts are retained.

8/15

Form: 2P-342 C

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 155

Form & Verdict
Soft/heavy going wasn't ideal in his two runs against Jonbon this season, including when attempting a third success in the Shloer; back in better form at Kempton (good to soft) most recently, beating all bar Editeur Du Gite in the Desert Orchid for the second year running; an even drier surface would heighten interest, as he's 4-5 on good ground over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

27th Apr 2024

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Nube Negra

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Three-time Grade 2 winner who has run pretty well in defeat in Grade 2 and Grade 1 races the last twice; however, he would be a surprise winner today; wears first-time cheekpieces.

50/1

5th

7

27th Apr 2024

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Nube Negra

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Three-time Grade 2 winner who has run pretty well in defeat in Grade 2 and Grade 1 races the last twice; however, he would be a surprise winner today; wears first-time cheekpieces.

50/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jonbon

Daily Mail:

Fugitif

RP RATINGS:

Jonbon

TOPSPEED:

Jonbon

POSTDATA:

Jonbon

LAMBOURN:

Jonbon

The Times:

Jonbon

Telegraph:

Jonbon

The Guardian:

Jonbon

D Express:

Jonbon

Daily Mirror:

Jonbon

The Sun:

Jonbon

The Star:

Jonbon

Daily Record:

Jonbon