Ascot Saturday

Clarence House Chase (Grade 1)

JONBON (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville) cemented his spot as favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase by downing dual champion Energumene (Willie Mullins/Paul Townend) in a much-anticipated clash for the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase.

The 8/13 favourite was ridden forward from tape-rise, with Townend at pains to keep Energumene handy. De Boinville took his foot off the pedal after passing the stands for the first time, which allowed Energumene to get on terms, but he pressed on again after a big jump at the first ditch and was always controlling the race from that point.

Jonbon jumped well bar putting in an extra stride at the third-last, but even then he was nimble, and was in command when Energumene had to reach for the penultimate fence, coming home six and a half lengths to the good of his main rival, with Edwardstone (Alan King/Tom Cannon) a further four lengths back in third having been outpaced at a crucial stage.

Speaking to ITV Racing, De Boinville said: “He was very fresh and gassy today, but he felt so well – I was trying to keep a lid on him more than anything else. He answered every call jumping-wise and was very quick with his feet. I’m so happy. He’s so consistent and the crowd have warmed to him too.”

Delighted trainer Nicky Henderson added: “He’s not the most straightforward horse, but he’s just a joy. What a performance. Nico said he was very fresh and nearly too much on it. He was out and really up for it. He just wanted to do it and loves the game.

“It was a brave way to do it, but the right way. He’s a genuine two-miler. Nico was the essential part of Sprinter Sacre in his early days and it’s always great to see him rewarded.”

Chances too sharp

Earlier on the card, Take No Chances (Dan Skelton/Kielan Woods) turned over hotpot Kargese (Willie Mullins/Paul Townend) in the Grade 2 Warfield Mares’ Hurdle – run as the BetMGM Mares’ Hurdle – with the runner-up travelling best but appearing to blow up between the last two hurdles.

Ooh Betty (Ben Clarke/Ben Jones) fared best of the remainder, beaten three-parts of a length and two and a quarter lengths into third.

Take No Chances was well held by Sir Gino in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle but had been successful in a listed event for mares at Wetherby in November and ran well when third at Cheltenham last month in handicap company.

She was having her fifth start since October here and made that fitness edge count to resume winning ways at odds of 13/2. Kargese was typically warm and on her toes in the preliminaries and her tendency to race on her nerves remains an issue that her trainer will look to iron out before Cheltenham, where she is likely to be a leading fancy for the Grade 1 David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle.

“Race fitness was on her side and that probably told,” winning jockey Kielan Woods told ITV Racing.

“Once we got a bit of daylight and into the clear - the one thing she does is jump really well - she attacked the last two and she winged the last, which was probably enough for her.

Lulamba lives up

Lulamba kicked off a double for Henderson and de Boinville with a comfortable win in the BetMGM Juvenile Hurdle which opened Ascot’s Saturday card. Bought privately out of the Arnaud Chaille-Chaille yard by Jerry McGrath after winning on his debut at Auteuil in October, the gelding is treading a similar path to Sir Gino, who was acquired from the same source for owners Joe and Marie Donnelly. He has been something of a talking horse for the Triumph Hurdle in recent weeks and justified that talk by beating Mondo Man (Gary & Josh Moore/Caoilin Quinn), himself an intriguing recruit to hurdles, by over three lengths.

Winning jockey Nico de Boinville, speaking to Sky Sports Racing, said: “He’s a good horse, credit to Jerry who bought him. We haven’t really pushed any buttons at home, whatever people have been saying.

“He came here a fresh horse and it’s great to see him do that. We’ve done a bit in the top school over telegraph poles, so he’s learned how to do it the English way.”