Ascot stages a Premier Raceday meeting over jumps on Saturday afternoon as the inaugural three-day Berkshire Winter Million Festival continues on Clarence House Chase Day.
The Grade 1 contest is due off at 3.32 and has drawn a small but select field for the final major test for two-mile chasers in Britain before the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
We've got a preview of the big race alongside some of the support contests at Ascot on Saturday, where they race from 12.30-4.02 on ground forecast to be 'good to soft-good in places'.
3.32 - Clarence House Chase (Grade 1, 2m1f)
Shades of 2022 here as four runners line up in the Clarence House with a superstar duel grabbing the headlines. Back then it was Energumene and Shishkin topping the bill with First Flow and Amoola Gold in supporting roles.
Now, Energumene and JONBON are set to draw swords for the first time in their careers, with Edwardstone and Boothill joining them for a fascinating contest.
Three years ago, the Willie Mullins-trained Energumene lost the battle against Shishkin here but won the war as he bagged his maiden Champion Chase at Cheltenham six weeks later, with Nicky Henderson's charge pulled up after a laboured run in the Cotswolds.
This is the latest battle between Closutton and Seven Barrows, with Henderson in charge of late as Constitution Hill and Sir Gino lorded it over Lossiemouth and Ballyburn in their festive clashes.
Energumene certainly hadn't put Banbridge to bed at Cork in the Hilly Way as he returned from a near two-year absence last month. That form is smart, Joseph O'Brien's charge having subsequently won the King George over three-miles, but it may require a good step forward to down the Henderson horse now.
Of course Energumene should come on plenty for that first run in 593 days but, now an 11-year-old, it remains to be seen if he can be committed to the sort of end-to-end gallop he set here against Shishkin in 2022. If he can, he might well put Jonbon's jumping under pressure.
However, Nico de Boinville's partner is a hugely consistent performer, the winner on 16 of his 19 career starts and second best in the other three.
He looked as good as ever when landing his second Tingle Creek at Sandown last month and the presence of Energumene out in front may well elicit another personal best from the JP McManus-owned nine-year-old as Henderson bags another big prize at the expense of Britain and Ireland's champion trainer.
Mullins, as he does, may well turn the screw later in the spring on the grandest of stages, but this day can belong to the Master of Seven Barrows.
On form, Edwardstone and Boothill are surely going to have a watching brief come the business end of this race.
SELECTION: JONBON
NEXT BEST: ENERGUMENE
12.30 - Juvenile Hurdle (1m7½f)
Potentially a very informative opener on the Ascot card as these seven four-year-olds lock horns.
Gary & Josh Moore send out Mondo Man, who was a smart performer on the Flat in France and ran fourth in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting here last June over 1m4f. He changed hands for the handsome sum of €520,000 in October and is a fascinating contender now for a yard that is not averse to having a very smart juvenile to unleash at this time of year.
Moutarde is already a two-time winner over hurdles for Anthony Charlton, while Viyanni is a gelded son of Almanzor and won on hurdles debut at Market Rasen last month after joining Harry Derham from Johnny Murtagh. St Pancras is another with solid Flat form as he starts out for new handler Toby Lawes over jumps.
The Henderson/de Boinville axis will hope to start their day in the best possible fashion with French import LULAMBA.
He won over hurdles at Auteuil (2m2f, heavy) on his debut in October and has since been snapped up by Joe & Marie Donnelly to add to their impressive portfolio.
There should be plenty more under the bonnet for him and he's been a springer in the Triumph Hurdle market already so clearly expectations are high for his British bow.
SELECTION: LULAMBA
NEXT BEST: MONDO MAN
1.40 - Mares' Hurdle (Grade 2, 1m7½f)
Another not-to-be-missed contest as KARGESE makes her reappearance for the Mullins operation. The Kenny Alexander-owned mare was amongst the best juveniles around last season, winning Grade 1s at the Dublin Racing Festival and the Punchestown either side of runner-up finishes behind Majborough in the Triumph Hurdle and Sir Gino at Aintree.
The whispers from Closutton suggest she has strengthened up significantly during her off-time and, with the likes of stablemate Lossiemouth and Gordon Elliott's Brighterdaysahead possibly going to take aim at the Champion Hurdle come March, Kargese could be a massive player in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
If that is going to be the case, she should make a winning return in this company under Paul Townend.
Dan Skelton's Take No Chances and the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Casa No Mento are amongst the dangers, while Ooh Betty beat a decent field at Kempton over Christmas for Ben Clarke and merits a crack in the grade.
SELECTION: KARGESE
NEXT BEST: OOH BETTY
4.02 - 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (2m5½f)
The best punting prospect at Ascot may come in the finale when Alan King sends out I'M A LUMBERJACK in this novices' hurdle seeking to make it two wins from three over timber.
The son of Jack Hobbs was decent in bumpers last season without winning and stepped up on his hurdles bow at Bangor (2m½f, good to soft) in November as he finished second behind Gentleman Bill.
He was keen early in that race and was popped the question to try and close after three out. The front three were a long way clear and neither Tom Cannon's mount nor the eventual winner were done any favours when Oh My Johnny came down at the last.
I'm A Lumberjack was battling hard to the line and lost out on the nod in a race that has worked out well, with the winner one of four to score since.
King's charge has won decisively since at Warwick upped to this trip in December and should have plenty more to give.
Laurens Bay won at Huntingdon last month for Jamie Snowden and is a danger alongside Taunton scorer U Cant Be Serious for Joe Tizzard and Jax Junior for Lucy Wadham on the back of success at Doncaster, but I'm A Lumberjack can progress for meeting better opposition and enhance his own reputation.
SELECTION: I'M A LUMBERJACK
NEXT BEST: U CANT BE SERIOUS
