In a race that is no stranger to an odds-on favourite, the Willie Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps was the overwhelming choice of the market in 2026. Arriving on a five-race winning streak, the eight-year-old had struck six times at the highest level and boasted a 2-0 head-to-head record against the second favourite Jonbon.
In 2025, it was Jonbon who delivered as the odds-on favourite when sauntering more than six lengths clear of another Mullins runner in Energumene. While not at his best in two starts in the 2025/26 campaign – including when nine lengths behind Il Etait Temps in the Tingle Creek Chase – he was unbeaten in two previous outings at Ascot. With Harry Cobden picking up an injury earlier on the card, James Bowen picked up a plum spare ride aboard the 10-time Grade 1 winner.
Harry Fry’s Gidleigh Park came next in the market. Second to leading Cheltenham Gold Cup contender Jango Baie on his previous outing in the Grade 2 1965 Chase, he stepped down half a mile in trip for this assignment. With a perfect three from three record at 2m-2m½f, that looked to be a positive move.
Dan Skelton’s Thistle Ask rounded out the small but select field. At the start of the 2025/26 season, the thought of this nine-year-old lining up in a Grade 1 contest would have seemed fanciful to say the least. However, something in the Warwickshire air seems to agree with this ex-James Ewart runner. Joining Skelton on a mark of 115, he promptly won four on the bounce to progress to a new rating of 158. This represented a big step up in class from handicapping company, but this bold jumping front-runner was an intriguing contender.
Result
- 1st – Jonbon 6/1, Jockey: James Bowen, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
- 2nd – Thistle Ask 9/1, Jockey: Harry Skelton, Trainer: Dan Skelton
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £112,393.75
- 2nd – £52,021.25
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £7
- Exacta – £33.70
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £38.04
- Trifecta – £25.90
Recap
The competition may have been significantly tougher, but Harry Skelton stuck to his successful strategy aboard Thistle Ask. Grabbing the inside rail when the starter lowered his flag, the rapid improver jumped the first fence alongside Gidleigh Park and moved a couple of lengths clear around the first bend. Gidleigh Park sat second, two lengths clear of Jonbon, with the hot-favourite Il Etait Temps held up in the rear in the early stages.
Moving into the home straight for the first time, Thistle Ask was setting a fierce early gallop. The pace appeared to catch Gidleigh Park out, with a clumsy error at the second seeing him concede second place to Jonbon. Il Etait Temps was quietly ridden towards the inside rail in fourth.
Turning into the back straight, Thistle Ask continued to pour it on in front. Jonbon briefly moved closer but found himself outpaced, while Il Etait Temps switched wide in an effort to get involved but made no inroads. Still a long way to go, but the frontrunner was asking some serious questions of the two Grade 1 winners in the field. Gidleigh Park found it all happening too quickly, making a juddering error at the fifth and another at the sixth. Realising this wasn’t going to be his day, Bryan Carver made the sensible decision to pull his mount up.
A shock looked to be on the cards as the race began in earnest around the home turn. Thistle Ask kicked again from the front, leaving Jonbon flatfooted and opening up a four-length lead. Il Etait Temps moved through into second with the leader in his sights.
It was all change in the straight. Thistle Ask still led over the second last, but Il Etait Temps found nothing when asked before coming down at the penultimate obstacle. Thankfully, horse and rider emerged unscathed. With the favourite out of the race, Thistle Ask had only Jonbon to worry about. Unfortunately for the long-time leader, the Nicky Henderson star had found a second wind and was beginning to stay on relentlessly. A big jump saw Thistle Ask hold the lead over the last, but Jonbon’s proven class and staying power proved too much on the run to the line. Hitting the front half a furlong from home, the 2025 winner came home three lengths clear of the gallant Thistle Ask.
It was an 11th Grade 1 for the remarkable Jonbon, who became the third horse to win the Clarence House Chase more than once, following in the hoofprints of Master Minded (2009, 2011) and Un de Sceaux (2016, 2017, 2018). It was also an eighth Clarence House Chase win for Nicky Henderson, who extended his lead at the top of the all-time trainers’ table.
Runners
- 1. Gidleigh Park – SP: 7/1, Trainer: Harry Fry, Jockey: Bryan Carver
- 2. Il Etait Temps – SP: 2/5F, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Paul Townend
- 3. Jonbon – SP: 6/1, Trainer: Nicky Henderson, Jockey: James Bowen
- 4. Thistle Ask – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Dan Skelton, Jockey: Harry Skelton
Non-Runners
All ran.