Jonbon and Energumene are on course to meet in what Nicky Henderson predicts will be a “big battle” for the BetMGM Clarence House Chase crown at Ascot on Saturday.
Henderson’s Jonbon looks to cement his position at the head of the betting for the Champion Chase at Cheltenham by adding to his already impressive record of Grade One wins.
In 19 career starts for Seven Barrows he has won 16, his only defeats coming against Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, El Fabiolo in the Arkle and Elixir De Nutz in this race when it was converted to Cheltenham last season, when he almost fell several times.
It will be the first meeting between Jonbon and the Willie Mullins-trained Energumene, who won the Champion Chase in both 2022 and 2023 but sat out all of last season before making a triumphant return to Cork last month.
Henderson and Mullins tread familiar ground in their star clash, with Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth settling in for them in a Christmas hurdle that has proved to be one of the highlights of the festive period.
Henderson said: “This could be a big battle and it’s great to play. Just like at Christmas, high-class horses fighting high-class horses. I hope it’s a race people can look forward to, it should be a nice one star billing.
“We’re looking forward to it and it’s all systems go. At Tingle Creek the other day the crowd really got behind him, which is nice. He deserves it. He’s been playing at the top of the table for a while, the young buck used to come.”
Energumene is no stranger to Ascot’s Clarence House Chase, having been sent by Willie Mullins from Closutton for her in 2022 when he clashed with another Seven Barrows superstar, the late Shishkin.
The race was remembered as one of Ascot’s best in recent years, with Energumene falling by a length as Shishkin’s famous late surge proved too much for him.
Revenge awaited at Cheltenham, but as Shishkin stopped early, Energumene easily won his first Champion Chase
Henderson recalled: “It was one of the greatest races of all time, it was billed like that and it lived up to it, which was great. Well, it was great for us, I don’t think Willie enjoyed it as much as we did! It went their way , and then eventually it came back our way.
“Energumene was impressive on his return a few weeks ago, so it looks like we’ll have a repeat, but Jonbon will be the one who will have to fight him.
“The interesting thing is that Jonbon is very happy up there (with the pace), they could go at a good gallop, it could be an attacking game! This could be setting up for another historic renewal.”
Old rivals Edwardstone (Alan King) and Boothill (Harry Fry) are also in the mix, while Evan Williams’ Liberty Hunter is a fascinating potential runner.
The nine-year-old was second in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham and then third in a Grade One novice group at Aintree but looked an improved horse when winning easily on his return.
Dan Skelton’s Grand Annual winner Unexpected Party completes the list of six possible.
