Clarence Home Chase: Workforce Energumene ‘will not disguise’ from Jonbon conflict at Ascot as former champion continues comeback | Racing Information

Energumene’s connections “will not disguise” from an all-star conflict with Jonbon at Ascot later this month, with the BetMGM Clarence Home Chase prone to be subsequent for the two-time Champion Chase hero.

After profiting from a missed Shishkin in his first Champion Chase in 2022, Willie Mullins’ solely winner on day two of the Cheltenham Pageant returned in fantastic kind to defend his crown a 12 months later, demolishing the opposition , with the reigning champion. the pursuer, Captain Guinness, 10 lengths behind in second.

Harm denied him the prospect to change into solely the second horse to win three Champion Chases, as he spent your complete 2023-24 marketing campaign on the sidelines. However he made an thrilling return after 593 days off by reappearing in his conventional place to begin, Cork’s Hilly Approach Chase, the place it appeared like he had gotten the higher of King George’s later hero Banbridge when he lastly overturned his seat.

Energumene has already adopted a pre-Christmas outing to Cork with a tune-up to Cheltenham at Clarence Home and the standard service is because of resume on January 18.

Owned by Brighton & Hove Albion supremo Tony Bloom, few can neglect Energumene’s titanic showdown with the aforementioned Shishkin on the Grade One occasion three years in the past, with the pair separated by only a size after a battle for supremacy on the Ascot straight.

The 11-year-old now appears to be like set to satisfy one other standout performer in Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows, with the race earmarked as Jonbon’s subsequent cease on his method to the Champion Chase – and Workforce Energumene are desirous to tackle the problem, offered the circumstances are appropriate.

“I spoke to Willie simply earlier than the Christmas interval and he advised me he was doing properly and got here out of the Hilly Approach in nice form,” mentioned Sean Graham, Bloom’s racing director.

“Banbridge freed up this type a bit by profitable a King George, however Willie additionally identified that Dinoblue (10 lengths in second) did not run so properly after that – so one might say {that a} line within the kind states that he was freed and one other says no.

“He’s in nice kind and we’re simply hoping the pitch will get tender at Ascot as a result of the softer the higher for him.

“We definitely will not disguise from the race and if the circumstances are good and the bottom is tender and never too quick, then that is the race we’re aiming for. I have never heard something completely different since I talked to Willie, so I assume it is the identical.”

Though Clarence Home might even see two of Champion Chase’s main gamers face off, there can be half an eye fixed in the direction of March, with the principle goal for Energumene to reach on the Cheltenham Pageant with a clear invoice of well being. .

At Prestbury Park he may have the chance to duplicate the exploits of Badsworth Boy, who’s the one horse to have received the Champion Chase 3 times, and finds himself 5-1 total with layers following his return to Cork .

Solely Jonbon and teammate Gaelic Warrior are forward of him within the betting for the two-mile championship and connections stay hopeful about their most well-liked floor circumstances forward of his long-awaited hat-trick try within the Cotswolds.

“Earlier than he ran within the Hilly Approach he was 12-1 to win the Champion Chase and now he is about 5-1,” Graham continued.

“He can be 11 in March and the final 11-year-old to win the Champion Chase was the Moscow Flyer and earlier than that you must return to Skymas within the Nineteen Seventies.

“They’re the final two 11-year-olds to win the race and that is a giant ask, but when the bottom will get tender on Wednesday at Cheltenham, and I imply actually tender floor, then I would not commerce it for something .

“Badsworth Boy is the one horse to have received three Champion Chases and whenever you have a look at all the nice horses which have competed on this race over time and all of the superstars, if Energumene had been to win in March then he can be the primary for a lot of time to win three.

“It exhibits what a giant ask it’s, however we’re seeking to get him there in a single piece and have an excellent likelihood both manner.”