January 18 / 15.32 Ascot

15.32

Good To Soft

BetMGM Clarence House Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £98472.5
  • 2m 0f 167y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
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BetMGM Clarence House Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

4/7 (Won)

  • Win: £1.62

Form: 211-11 C

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 170

Form & Verdict
Has become a powerhouse in this division and is the current favourite for his upcoming first attempt at the Champion Chase, from which he was a late defector last season due to his stable being under a cloud; much too good for his rivals at Sandown most recently, registering a second success in the Tingle Creek and taking chase record to 11-13 (matches Energumene on that score); lacks fluency on occasions, including in this contest last year (rescheduled to Cheltenham) when finishing second and suffering one of his rare defeats, but has mostly jumped well this term and still has a 100% completion record; highly respected as usual.
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: 1311/1 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 169

Form & Verdict
Dual winner of the Champion Chase and took part in a famously thrilling showdown with Shishkin in this race three years ago, nearly making all; only third in the 2023 Clarence House, which was rescheduled to Cheltenham; jumped right in the latter stages at Cork last month but made an encouraging return from lengthy absence, registering a third success in the Hilly Way having been left clear when closest pursuer Banbridge (subsequent King George winner) departed at the final fence; that bare form is subpar by his standards but he retains an impressive strike-rate (11-13 in this sphere) and is the best horse in this field on peak figures.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 98y

18:05 Punchestown

Energumene

11st 12lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Rolled back the years with a dominant win at Fairyhouse on latest, his first start at 2m4f for almost six years; won this in 2022 and 2023 but he's a 12yo now and Paul Townend prefers the chances of Il Etait Temps; probably vulnerable to younger legs dropped back in trip.

16/1

1st

1

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 180y

16:20 Fairyhouse

Energumene

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

High class operator in his pomp; has won eleven chases, including six at the top table; however, it seems like time is catching up with the 12yo and he was well held by Found A Fifty at Cork in December; tailed off at Leopardstown on latest in first-time cheekpieces (discarded); last ran at this trip in 2020; others preferred.

9/2

4th

1

1st Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 1f 0y

14:10 Leopardstown

Energumene

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Top-class chaser won the Champion Chase in 2022-23 while he previously won a Grade 1 novice over C&D; returned after a long absence last season and wasn't at his best, but still capable of smart form; was third to Found A Fifty in a Cork Grade 2 on return but will have to improve a fair bit on that; does handle testing ground well; cheekpieces added.

8/1

14/1

Form: F3-3F2 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 163

Form & Verdict
Went close in this contest two years ago (rescheduled to Cheltenham) and ran respectably in Grade 2 handicap at Kempton most recently; faller in the Tingle Creek on penultimate start, taking his record against Jonbon to 0-5 and form figures in that race to 12F; very smart on his day but again seems unlikely to finally turn over the Henderson runner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

14:55 Sandown

Edwardstone

11st 10lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Admirable veteran, albeit isn't quite the force of old and gained this season's win in substandard Grade 2 at Kempton (2m4f); also perhaps ideally suited by further than about 2m nowadays; beaten twice in this race.

33/1

3rd

1

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 2

14:35 Plumpton

Edwardstone

12st 0lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

12yo whose career highlight came when winning the Tingle Creek in 2022; showed he retains considerable spark when winning Grade 2 at Kempton (2m4f, good) this January; he may prefer a longer trip than this nowadays but he's a leading player nevertheless now back in a handicap.

5/2

4th

3

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Edwardstone

11st 10lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Acts on any ground; formerly a high-class chaser at about 2m, best form when winning the 2022 Tingle Creek; seems better suited by further nowadays and, despite his advancing years, managed to land a Grade 2 prize over 2m4f at Kempton most recently; recapturing Grade 1 honours at the age of 12 is not completely implausible, as he's technically still unexposed at this sort of trip and his two main rivals are also veterans.

10/1

OUR TIP

20/1

Form: FF4-2F CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict
Has finished behind Jonbon three times, most recently in this season's Shloer, and recent completion record is modest (fell in three of last five outings); 3-3 over C&D but those were handicap wins; needs a career-best performance to enhance that record.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Boothill

11st 9lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

Ascot specialist who runs at Aintree for the first time; following wind surgery he ran okay when 13l eighth of 20 in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham (2m, good) last month, and he's another 4lb lower today; however, this 11yo is without a win since 2023 and needs to find something extra now in cheekpieces.

33/1

8th

6

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Boothill

11st 4lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

Ascot specialist who ran really well when second to Jonbon in C&D Grade 2 (good) in November 2024; well handicapped on that form but this 11yo has struggled to get competitive this season; wind op needs to prompt a revival.

40/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.90
Straight Forecast £2.35
Trifecta £3.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jonbon

The Times:

Energumene

RP RATINGS:

Jonbon

TOPSPEED:

Jonbon

POSTDATA:

Jonbon

LAMBOURN:

Jonbon

Telegraph:

Jonbon

Daily Mail:

Jonbon

The Sun:

Jonbon

The Guardian:

Energumene

D Express:

Energumene

Daily Mirror:

Energumene

The Star:

Energumene

Daily Record:

Energumene