The Clarence Home Chase has been frozen out of its conventional Ascot dwelling within the two seasons since Shishkin and Energumene fought out a memorable battle on the run-in in 2022, however this 12 months a thaw appears to have arrived simply in time and the stage is about for an additional compelling duel within the Grade One contest on Saturday after Jonbon and Energumene, the top-rated two-milers in Britain and Eire respectively, each appeared amongst Monday’s five-day entries.
Large-race head-to-heads don’t all the time ship on their buildup. Shishkin versus Energumene, although, was an on the spot traditional, as Shishkin dug deep to claw again a one-length deficit leaping the final and edge in entrance a number of strides from the road.
It will be grasping to count on an identical drama on Saturday – however on the identical time, the parallels between 2022 and 2025 are troublesome to disregard. Energumene, after all, is widespread to each, however Willie Mullins’s 11-year-old can be up towards a prolific Grade One winner from the Nicky Henderson steady, whereas the highest two within the betting are additionally separated by simply 1lb on official scores.
Jonbon, in truth, is presently the top-rated British-trained chaser at any distance, which is partly an indication of the dearth of top-class expertise at staying journeys but additionally a mirrored image of the nine-year-old’s class and astonishing consistency over four-and-a-half seasons on the monitor.
Following his win within the Grade One Tingle Creek at Sandown in December, Jonbon has now raced 19 occasions, profitable 16 and ending second within the different three. It’s a outstanding file by any measure and but, up to now at the very least, Jonbon doesn’t fairly appear to have captured the general public creativeness within the method of earlier top-class two-milers from the Henderson yard like Altior, Sprinter Sacre and Shishkin.
There are a number of attainable explanation why, together with Jonbon’s misfortune in sharing a novice season over hurdles along with his steady companion, Structure Hill, who hogged all the eye within the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons and have become the one horse to beat Jonbon over timber within the Supreme Novice Hurdle in 2022. Jonbon was overwhelmed on the 2023 Pageant too, ending second to El Fabiolo within the Arkle Trophy Novice Chase.
It has been considerably unlucky for Jonbon by way of his public appreciation that the sprinkling of defeats on his profession file have occurred in each fifth race, which has prevented him working up a protracted profitable sequence within the method of his illustrious predecessors.
Altior received his first 19 begins over jumps, Sprinter Sacre landed his first 10 over fences and Shishkin prolonged his win streak to 10 towards Energumene three years in the past. Jonbon, although, has but to win greater than 4 races in a row, regardless of having a greater strike-rate than all three over the course of their careers.
Henderson recalled the 2022 Clarence Home as “one of many nice races of all time” after the entries had been revealed on Monday. “It was billed as that and it lived as much as that, which was terrific,” he added. “Properly, it was terrific for us. I don’t suppose Willie loved it as a lot as we did. It was going their manner after which it got here again to go our manner on the finish.
“Energumene was spectacular on his comeback run a number of weeks in the past, so it seems to be as if we’re going to have a redo, however it is going to be Jonbon who’s going to should do battle with him.”
Greg Wooden’s Tuesday suggestions
Present
Southwell: 12.22 Ever Hopeful 12.52 Blue Lakota 1.22 Invited 1.52 My Brother Mike 2.22 Rubellite 2.52 Letmeseethecolts 3.22 Comte De Loir (nap), 3.55 Marinakis.
Plumpton: 1.10 Jurancon 1.40 Ideallko 2.10 Blue Las 2.40 Glengolly 3.10 Credo 3.45 Kazontherazz.
Newcastle: 3.38 Jujubella 4.13 Swiss Ace (nb) 4.45 Water Of Leith 5.15 She’s The Duchess 5.45 Friends Battalion 6.15 Tasever 6.45 Tantomile.
Thanks to your suggestions.
Saturday’s race affords Jonbon one other likelihood to interrupt out of the WWWWL sample that has run via his profession so far like a watermark, and Ladbrokes put in him as their 8-11 favorite within the early betting on Monday, with Energumene at 15-8 and Edwardstone – a three-time Grade one winner over fences – on 9-1.
Energumene, although, regarded rusty however nonetheless as proficient as ever on his return from a 593-day harm layoff at Cork in early December, and can entice loads of assist as he makes an attempt to get a Clarence Home Chase win on his file on the third try.
“The fascinating factor is that Jonbon’s very joyful up there [setting the pace, so] they might be going a proper good gallop,” Henderson mentioned. “This might be brewing up for an additional historic renewal.”
