Clarence House Chase 2022 odds, predictions: Energumene to come out on top
It’s fair to suggest that Saturday’s SBK Clarence House Chase at Ascot has captured the racing public’s imagination like no other race yet in this National season.
The Grade 1 contest over an extended two miles may have attracted ‘only’ four runners in pursuit of the £85,425 first prize, but two of them happen to be the biggest guns in the division right now.
The race has really got tongues wagging and “Shishkin vs Energumene: Round 1” should live up to the billing.
Ascot, 3.55 – Clarence House Chase 2022 odds
Odds are courtesy of BoyleSports, correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
- Shishkin @ 8/13
- Energumene @ 2/1
- First Flow @ 10/1
- Amoola Gold @ 100/1
Clarence House Chase betting predictions
Odds correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change.
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Bold owners deserve praise
The fact Shishkin and Energumene both entered this race was noted from the turn of the year, but few were willing to believe this clash would happen just eight weeks before the Cheltenham Festival.
It has become a bane for racing purists, but too often these days the very best horses in each division are campaigned to avoid each other before the Cotswolds in March.
Yes, Cheltenham is the ‘Olympics of jumps racing’, but that should not be to the detriment of the remainder of the calendar.
Keeping these top jumps horses fit year in, year out is not an easy task and, when fit, they should be competing against each other for the top prizes in the sport during the season.
So credit is to be offered to the Donnellys and Tony Bloom, respective owners of these two unbeaten chasers, for their unwillingness to back away from what is a real gunfight.
The good news is, for whichever comes out second best (if indeed one of the remaining duo cannot cause a major shock), is that the Queen Mother Champion Chase is only 53 days from Saturday.
These two high-class performers will have another chance to go at it there and, if this race works out, they’ll go to the Cotswolds fully prepared for the battle.
So good so far for Shishkin
Trainer Nicky Henderson drew plenty of criticism for his decision to take SHISHKIN out of the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown in early December.
The Seven Barrows trainer felt his charge wasn’t quite ready and opted to wait until Christmas. Judgement on the knowledge of a man with more than four decades’ experience and is second only to Willie Mullins in terms of Cheltenham Festival winners, really should be left to the qualified.
Henderson’s patience was duly rewarded as Shishkin routed the Tingle Creek scorer Greaneteen in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton last month. He was much too good, even allowing for the 3lb he got from that rival.
That was his first run after a wind operation and last year’s Arkle winner is now 6-6 over fences. He has yet to be seriously troubled, though Funambule Sivola did finish within 3¼ lengths at Aintree in the spring. Beating him here will be some achievement if it can be done.
Selection: Shishkin @ 8/13 with BoyleSports
Energumene in uncharted territory
Of course, ENERGUMENE and Shishkin were slated to clash in that Arkle last spring, only for the Mullins horse to become an 11th-hour withdrawal.
Instead, the French import continued his imperious progress with a 16-length demolition of his rivals in a Grade 1 race at the Punchestown Festival in April. The distant second was Janidil, Energumene’s stablemate who began this season with a runner-up finish behind Allaho in the Grade 1 John Durkan.
Having easily won the Hilly Way Chase at Cork in December’s comeback over this trip on soft ground, Energumene is 5-5 over jumps, supplementing his easy maiden win at Gowran Park in March 2020 on what proved his only start over timber.
He has been odds on for each of those six races over obstacles, with Saturday set to be the first time he will be odds against. This will be by far his toughest test, facing a rival such as Shishkin, but it’s impossible to say how good this horse can be.
His front-running style will serve a different question to Shishkin, who is known to hit a flat spot in some of his races, and will surely bring Nico de Boinville’s mount to a crossroads he’s never met before when the pressure comes on against a rival of this apparent class.
Shishkin might still have the answers, but Energumene’s approach to racing might be the best way to beat him. At the odds, he is marginally preferred to cause an upset.
Last year’s winner First Flow loves Ascot, but it was noted connections went up to 2m 4f for his seasonal comeback when he won the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on the same day Energumene reappeared in Ireland. On ratings, he’s got plenty to find and that applies even more so for decent handicapper Amoola Gold.
Dan Skelton’s charge won a Listed handicap race here off 146 on his comeback in October, but was denied the follow-up and has since been well held at Cheltenham in December. He needs the others to falter.
Selection: Energumene @ 2/1 with BoyleSports
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