Jonbon powers clear in the Clarence House

BetMGM Clarence House Chase: Brilliant Jonbon floors Energumene

By David Ord

Horse Racing

Sat January 18, 2025 · 2M ago

Jonbon’s perfect season continued as he decisively saw off Energumene in the BetMGM Clarence House Chase.

Nicky Henderson’s charge was taken to the front early on by Nico De Boinville and he was never to be headed despite the runner-up keeping close tabs on him.

Turning in there was still very much a race on but the 8/13 favourite gradually broke his eleven-year-old rival and by the time he flew the last, the prize was in his grasp.

At the line he was six lengths clear and moments later was cut to 11/8 favouritism for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase by Betfair and Paddy Power.

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'He's a horse of a lifetime'

Nico de Boinville said: “The horse is just in great order at the moment and he is in a real sweet spot. They have done a tremendous job with him at home.

“I only ever school him at home. I don’t ever get on him any other time. The race went fairly smoothly. I felt I was only doing a half speed, but I think we were trapping along really.

“That was always the plan to do what we did. I was very aware that horses can be caught late on here and I’ve just nudged him out to the line. He is just a fantastic horse.

“It was a great jump at the last and it might have made a good picture, that’s him not me!

“Honestly, I just rode my own race and if Energumene was good enough then he was good enough. I’ve just ridden Jonbon how he likes to be ridden and concentrated on myself.

“I think you have seen the usual Jonbon as he is just so consistent. He is a fantastic horse and a horse of a lifetime really.

“I certainly think he is a worthy favourite for the Champion Chase, but we have just got to get there now as we all know what can happen in a short space of time so fingers crossed he remains sound and healthy.”

Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville lift the Clarence House trophy

Henderson said: “You wouldn’t mind him over two and a half miles and he won over that trip at Aintree last season, but he is a genuine two miler going really forward all the time.

“In his first couple of runs you don’t need to be too aggressive at that stage of the campaign, but now you are in at this very big level and the next one is the highest bar.

“I can’t see us doing anything different unless someone wants to go very fast. You will remember him as a young horse he used to be awash with sweat in the paddock, parade ring and at the start.

“At the beginning of the season it is always the same in that he has a couple of away days. We take him to Newbury just to walk around the paddock and take him home again without even riding him and then he has a gallop, or canter around, to take it all out of him.

“By the time he gets to his first race he is starting to settle down and as the season goes on he gets better.

“It is not the Champion Chase today, but that was the right to earn the place as favourite for the race. Energumene has been a good horse over the years, and he might be getting a bit older, but he is still a very good horse.

“He is very professional now and his jumping is so slick. I loved the way he quickened up going to the last as he fought off the enemy and still wanted to make a good show of it.

“We were all waiting for a little bit of cat and mouse over the first two fences as to who was going to make it as they are both natural front runners, but Nico quite rightly grabbed it and we’re off. Nico said he was very fresh and there wasn’t much else he could do.

“We had to sit and watch it go by in what was not the most competitive Champion Chase. We came back for Aintree and he was back for the Celebration Chase at Sandown.

“This season has gone according to plan, but this time last year we were in the same boat as the horses were fit and well and loving it, but there is a long time to go yet.

“He is not the most straightforward horse, but he is just a joy and we are very lucky these two milers keep popping along and long may it last.”

'It didn't pan out for him'

Sean Graham, racing manager to Tony Bloom, said: “On that ground Jonbon had too much speed for him and maybe the race didn’t pan out the way it would have suited him.

“Paul said he got alongside him at the fourth last and he just picked up and went away from him and on that ground we were going to struggle to beat Jonbon.

“He is a nine year old and he is probably reaching his peak at this stage whereas our fellow is 11 and we probably just need to pick our battles and have maybe the right conditions, which would mean very soft ground.

“There will be no decision made (regarding Cheltenham) and that will be up to Willie and Paul and whatever they decide we will go along with.

“If the ground came up heavy at Cheltenham like it did last year then maybe you would have a pop. I don’t want to point anyone in the wrong direction, but Willie and Paul will make up their mind where he will go next.

“When we stood here when we were second to Shishkin, Willie said to me that day how do we turn this around at Cheltenham, and he did.

“He was then even more disappointing when he was beaten in the Clarence House at Cheltenham and he went and won the Champion Chase that year.

“The horse keeps surprising us and he might surprise us again one time.”

Timeform View: David Cleary

The Clarence House returned to Ascot for the first time in three years, with Jonbon and Energumene, the beaten favourites in the last two runnings – both at Cheltenham – clashing. The outcome was a conclusive victory for Jonbon over the two-year-older Energumene, the winner's performance as good as any in his career.

Jonbon controlled the race, dictating, jumping fluently in the main if occasionally slightly to the left. Energumene tracked him. A close contest still looked a distinct possibility when Jonbon was in close at the third-last. However, when Energumene got the next wrong, the writing was on the wall. Jonbon's two-length advantage at that point stretched to 6½ by the line.

The other two runners, Edwardstone and Boothill, were bit-part players, though Edwardstone stuck to his task pluckily in the straight, albeit without posing a threat, and looked to run his race. The race was soundly run, the form looking as solid as might be, given the small field.

Jonbon is very much the one to beat so far as the Champion Chase goes. He was again calm in the preliminaries, confirming the impression that he's really grown up this season. It bears repeating how remarkably consistent he is. As for Energumene, he's still a high-class two-mile chaser and this was just his second run back from a lengthy absence, though he's probably not quite the force he was in his prime.

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