The Clarence House Chase has been frozen out of its traditional Ascot home in the two seasons since Shishkin and Energumene fought out a memorable battle on the run-in in 2022, but this year a thaw seems to have arrived just in time and the stage is set for another compelling duel in the Grade One contest on Saturday after Jonbon and Energumene, the top-rated two-milers in Britain and Ireland respectively, both appeared among Monday’s five-day entries.
Big-race head-to-heads do not always deliver on their buildup. Shishkin versus Energumene, though, was an instant classic, as Shishkin dug deep to claw back a one-length deficit jumping the last and edge in front a few strides from the line.
