Energumene is on course to try to make it third time lucky in Saturday’s Grade One BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot.
It is three years since the former dual-Champion Chase winner was famously edged out by Shishkin in a vintage renewal of Ascot’s top steeplechase contest. A year later Energumene could manage only third to Editeur Du Gite in a Clarence House transferred to Cheltenham due to weather disruption. On both occasions Willie Mullins’s star proceeded to lift the two-mile Queen Mother Champion Chase crown at the festival.
Now at the veteran stage the 11-year-old successfully returned from a near-600 day absence due to injury when landing last month’s Hilly Way Chase at Cork. He looked to have the measure of the subsequent King George hero Banbridge when the latter exited at the final fence and is a general 5/1 shot to become just the second horse to land a Champion Chase hat-trick in March.
Energumene is set to tackle Jonbon, who tops the Cheltenham championship betting market, this weekend in an echo of that memorable 2022 Clarance House.
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Jonbon is a former stable companion of the ill-fated Shishkin and was quickly made odds-on by firms after Monday’s latest acceptance stage saw six horses left in Ascot’s feature.
“That was one of the great races of all time. It was billed as that and it lived up to that which was terrific,” Jonbon’s trainer Nicky Henderson said on Monday. “Well, it was terrific for us – I don’t think Willie enjoyed it as much as we did!”
Mullins previously enjoyed a Clarence House hat-trick with Un De Sceaux between 2016-18. That horse was 10 when completing three-in-a-row, a year younger than Energumene is now.
“The plan is to go to Ascot, hoping for a case of third time lucky as he hasn’t been a particularly lucky horse in the race so far. He had that great clash with Shishkin, then he disappointed in the race when it was transferred to Cheltenham. I think it was his first time over the white fences and maybe he just had a little bit of a look at them,” said Patrick Mullins. “He’s 11 now, and it’s going to be hard. He’s not in his prime and Jonbon is, but we’ll give it a go.”
Jonbon met one of only three career defeats in last season’s Clarence House – also transferred to Cheltenham – when some uncharacteristically sloppy jumping ultimately cost him against Elixir De Nutz.
JP McManus’s star was much more impressive when landing last month’s Tingle Creek at Sandown and is favoured to emerge on top in this latest top-class tussle between Henderson and Mullins.
At Kempton over Christmas, Constitution Hill defeated Lossiemouth in a memorable Christmas Hurdle clash. The Englishman’s top novice Sir Gino also got the better of Ballyburn 24 hours later at Kempton.
Looking ahead to Ascot, Henderson said on Monday: “This could be a big battle and it’s great for the game. Just like over Christmas, high-class horses taking on high-class horses. I hope it’s a race that people can look forward to, it should get pretty star billing.
“We’re looking forward to it and it’s all systems go. In the Tingle Creek the other day the crowd really got behind him, which is nice. He deserves it. He’s been playing at the top table for quite a while now, he used to be the young buck coming in.”
He added: “Energumene was impressive on his comeback run a few weeks ago, so it looks as if we’re going to have a re-do. But it will be Jonbon who’s going to have to do battle with him.
“The interesting thing there is that Jonbon’s very happy up there (with the pace), they could be going a right good gallop, it could be an attacking game. This could be brewing up for another historic renewal.”
Edwardstone and Boothill are also in the mix for Saturday’s big race.
Ascot’s other black-type contest on Saturday may see another top-class Mullins runner as Kargese has been left in the Grade Two Mares Hurdle. Runner up at Cheltenham and Aintree last season, Kargese eventually broke through at the top level with success at the Punchestown festival.
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