Britain’s premier dual-purpose track takes centre stage this coming Saturday as Ascot hosts the 2025 edition of the Clarence House Chase. Held over the 2m1f trip and offering £175,000 in prize money, this top-class contest regularly attracts a field of Queen Mother Champion Chase prospects.
Now firmly established as one of the key chases of the year, the Clarence House Chase made something of a slow start. Initially intended to debut in 1987, the first two editions were abandoned thanks to the ever-uncooperative British weather. However, the race soon made up for lost time. Everyone’s favourite grey, Desert Orchid, was the first to etch his name onto the trophy in 1989 and has since been joined by racing luminaries, including Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre, Altior, and Shiskin.
Looking ahead to the 2025 edition, only six runners remain in contention. However, if the top two in the market stand their ground, we look set for one of the most mouthwatering head-to-head clashes of the season to date.
Lucky Number Seven for Henderson?

Long established as the British king of the two-mile division, Nicky Henderson’s tally of six Clarence House Chase victories places him at the top of the all-time trainer’s table. Bidding to follow in the hoofprints of Big Matt, Isio, Tysou, Sprinter Sacre, Altior, and Shiskin, is the current favourite for the 2025 Queen Mother Champion Chase, Jonbon.
Sporting the famous green and gold silks of leading owner JP McManus, this nine-year-old full-brother to the brilliant Douvan heads to Ascot seeking a five-timer. Having rounded out the 2023/24 season with a Grade 1 double in the Melling Chase and Celebration Chase, Jonbon returned with a workmanlike success in the Shloer Chase but was much more impressive when hacking up by eight lengths in the Tingle Creek Chase last time out.
Now an eight-time Grade 1 winner, Jonbon will move one clear of his illustrious sibling if he comes home in front on Saturday. The son of Walk In The Park is odds on across the board to do so, but such was the case in the 2024 edition (held at Cheltenham following the abandonment of the Ascot card), only for the mount of Nico de Boinville to suffer a shock defeat at the hands of 22/1 chance Elixir De Nutz.
Energumene Back in Business
Should any chinks emerge in the Jonbon armour, the horse most likely to take advantage is the Willie Mullins-trained Irish raider, Energumene. Jonbon may top the Queen Mother Champion Chase market but has yet to score at the Cheltenham Festival. Energumene’s record at Prestbury Park in March stands at two starts and two wins, with each of those victories coming in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
If back to the form which saw him land the Cheltenham showpiece by almost nine lengths in 2022 and 11 lengths in 2023, the Tony Bloom-owned star may at least give Jonbon something to think about. But can he still do it at eleven years of age, having missed the entire 2023/24 campaign through injury? It looks like a tall order on paper, but Energumene suggested that the fire still burns on his return from a 593-day break when landing the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase by 10 lengths. His task was made easier by the final flight fall of King George hero Banbridge that day, but he should improve for the run and, as a two-time king of the division, merits the utmost respect.
On the downside, Energumene has come up short in two previous cracks at this prize. Losing out by a length to Shiskin in 2022, he then performed way below expectations when only third in 2023.
Familiar Foes Lead the Opposition
The market suggests that this is a two-horse race. On the balance of form, it’s hard to disagree with that assessment, but Alan King’s Edwadstone and the Harry Fry-trained Boothill are unlikely to go down without a fight.
At 11 years of age, Edwardstone may not be quite the force of old but is a three-time Grade 1 winner and has only two and a quarter lengths to find with Jonbon from their clash in the 2024 Shloer Chase. His only previous outing in this race saw him finish ahead of Energumene when losing out by just a head in the 2023 edition.
Boothill has yet to score in Grade 1 company, but a rating of 160 means he has little choice but to butt heads with the best in the business. Second behind Jonbon in the Shloer Chase, he was still in contention when falling in the Desert Orchid Handicap Chase at Kempton last time and boasts a perfect three-from-three record over this course and distance.