Clarence House Chase 2025: Results, Runners & Prize Money

Just four two-mile chase stars turned up for the 2025 edition of this prestigious Grade 1 affair. However, that didn’t detract from the spectacle in a race which promised to provide one of the most thrilling head-to-head clashes of the first half of the season.

Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon started as the hot favourite on the day. With two wins from two in the current season and arriving on the back of a scintillating Tingle Creek Chase success at Sandown, the nine-year-old took his next step towards the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Whilst Jonbon had yet to win at the Cheltenham Festival from two previous attempts, his main market rival, Energumene, boasted a perfect two-from-two record at Prestbury Park in March. A brilliant Queen Mother Champion Chase winner in 2022 and 2023, the Willie Mullins star missed his 2024 hat-trick attempt through injury. Could 2025 be his year at 11 years of age and following an extensive absence from the track? A 10-length comeback victory in the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase suggested it might, but this was a far stiffer task.

Rounding out the field were a pair of horses who had previously tried and failed to master Jonbon on several occasions. Alan King’s Edwardstone was a Grade 1 winner in his pomp but was zero from five against the market leader. With two of those defeats coming in the current campaign, he looked up against it. Similar comments applied to Harry Fry’s Boothill, who was 3-0 down versus Jonbon, including in the Shloer Chase earlier in the season.

Result

  • 1st – Jonbon 8/13F, Jockey: Nico de Boinville, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
  • 2nd – Energumene 9/4, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
  • 3rd – Edwardstone 12/1, Jockey: Tom Cannon, Trainer: Alan King

Prize Money Breakdown

  • 1st – £98,742.50
  • 2nd – £37,100.00
  • 3rd – £18,576.50
  • 4th – £9,275.00

Tote and Forecast Payouts

  • Tote Win – £1.62
  • Exacta – £1.90
  • Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £2.35
  • Trifecta – £3.50

Recap

Jonbon and Energumene were keen to get on with things when the flag went down, with the British runner just making it over the first fence in front. Edwardstone and Boothill appeared in no rush to take on the leading duo and sat around five lengths adrift.

There was no change in the order as the field passed the winning post for the first time. Paul Townend seemed happy to allow Jonbon to make the running and sat around one length back on the inside rail. Boothill and Edwardstone were still third and fourth but had narrowed the gap to a couple of lengths.

Energumene briefly moved up to pressurise Jonbon on the turn into the back straight. However, De Boinville chose this moment to inject a little pace into the race. Jumping immaculately, Jonbon was soon two lengths clear of his Irish rival, with Edwardstone, and particularly Boothill, struggling to keep pace.

Jonbon was a little scruffy at the third last but retained his advantage into the home straight. With Energumene struggling to find a change of gear and Edwardstone and Boothill well beaten off, the only dangers to the Henderson star were the remaining obstacles. Prodigious leaps over the final two fences sealed the deal as the JP McManus-owned gelding stormed to an impressive success by six and a half lengths. Energumene kept on for second, with Edwardstone a further four lengths back in third.

A ninth Grade 1 success for Jonbon, taking him one clear of his illustrious full-brother, Douvan. Nico de Boinville grabbed a third Clarence House victory, whilst Nicky Henderson claimed the prize for a seventh time to extend his lead as the most successful trainer in the history of the race.

Runners

  • 1. Boothill – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Harry Fry, Jockey: Bryan Carver
  • 2. Edwardstone – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Alan King, Jockey: Tom Cannon
  • 3. Energumene – SP: 9/4, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Paul Townend
  • 4. Jonbon – SP: 8/13F, Trainer: Nicky Henderson, Jockey: Nico de Boinville

Non-Runners

All Ran.