Jonbon and Energumene are on track to satisfy in what Nicky Henderson anticipates will likely be a “big battle” for the BetMGM Clarence Home Chase crown at Ascot on Saturday.
Henderson’s Jonbon is seeking to cement his place on the head of the betting for the Champion Chase at Cheltenham by including to his already spectacular haul of Grade One victories.
In 19 profession begins for the Seven Barrows group he has received 16, together with his solely defeats coming in opposition to Structure Hill within the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, El Fabiolo within the Arkle and Elixir De Nutz on this race when it was rearranged for Cheltenham final season, when he nearly fell on a couple of event.
It will likely be the primary assembly between Jonbon and the Willie Mullins-trained Energumene, who received the Champion Chase in each 2022 and 2023 however was sidelined for the whole thing of final season earlier than making a successful return at Cork final month.
Henderson and Mullins are treading acquainted floor of their conflict of stars, with Structure Hill and Lossiemouth having lined up for the pair respectively in a Christmas Hurdle that proved to be one of many highlights of the festive interval.
Henderson stated: “This could possibly be an enormous battle and it is nice for the sport. Identical to over Christmas, high-class horses taking over high-class horses. I hope it is a race that folks can sit up for, it ought to get fairly 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.”
Energumene is not any stranger to Ascot’s Clarence Home Chase, as Willie Mullins despatched him over from Closutton for it in 2022 when he went head-to-head with one other Seven Barrows famous person, the late Shishkin.
The race has been remembered as the most effective at Ascot lately, with Energumene happening by a size as Shishkin’s well-known late surge proved an excessive amount of for him.
Revenge awaited at Cheltenham, although, as with Shishkin pulled up early, Energumene received his first Champion Chase with ease
Henderson recalled: “That was one of the great races of all-time, it was billed as that and it lived up to that, which was terrific. Well, it was terrific for us, I don’t think Willie enjoyed it as much as we did! It was going their way and then it came back to go our way at the end.
“Energumene was spectacular on his comeback run just a few weeks in the past, so it appears as if we’ll have a re-do, however it is going to be Jonbon who’s going to must 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.”
Previous rivals Edwardstone (Alan King) and Boothill (Harry Fry) are additionally within the combine, whereas a captivating potential runner is Evan Williams’ Libberty Hunter.
The nine-year-old was second within the Grand Annual at Cheltenham after which third in Grade One novice firm at Aintree, however regarded an improved horse when simply successful on his comeback.
Dan Skelton’s Grand Annual winner Surprising Social gathering completes the listing of six possibles.
