Grade One Clarence House Chase Guide

It was thought that the nine year old would never be able to get back to his best Grade One winning form last year having raced twice before the festival, finishing second of four on debut in the Shloer Chase and then fifth of eight in the Tingle Creek, where again he finished behind Defi Du Seuil.

However, his win in the Champion Chase saw him back to his best and although the big hitters like Altior and Chacun Pour Soi were pulled out of the event which took the shine off the race, the grey was still the best horse on the day and under a superb ride from the front jumped the field into submission

His handler Paul Nicholls believed that his win in that race was not a fluke and with another great preparation he showed just how good he is when landing the Grade One Tingle Creek Chase for the second time in his career, on his seasonal debut.

The British Champion Chase division looks extremely weak this season and with this renewal of the race just that, it leaves Politologue at an odds against price being big value in this event.

Harry Skelton has been the rider on board for his last two wins and he now jumps off with Harry Cobden given the chance.

The Ruth Jefferson trained Waiting Patiently has been surprisingly supplemented for the Grade One event, with the gelding dropping down to, two miles after racing in the King George last time out over three miles.

The 10 year olds connections have decided to supplement the chasing star for the extended two mile event in what has come to a shock to the racing world having finished a superb second over the staying trip of the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day at Kempton.

The son of Flemensfirth was seen doing his best work late on over Christmas suggesting that he would be staying over the long trips, but Jefferson and connections believe the lightly raced gelding is primed for a big run in this race on Saturday.

Although it comes as a shock Waiting Patiently is not shy of running over this trip and has previous of performing well at the Berkshire track winning the Ascot Chase back in 2019.

It will be a slog in deep ground at Ascot on Saturday and his assured stamina could be a big factor in the final stages if the contest.

Leading two mile chaser Defi Du Seuil is looking to kickstart his season in 2021 and his trainer Philip Hobbs has given him the chance to defend his title in this race.

Defi Du Seuil has been a superstar for Philip Hobbs over the last few years landing numerous Grade Ones over both hurdles and fences and he makes his return in the Shloer Chase on Sunday at Prestbury Park.

Having been faultless in his three runs last term before the festival, winning all three of his contests over two miles including back to back Grade Ones in his last two runs in the Clarence House and Tingle Creek.

He headed to the festival going into the Champion Chase that fell apart in truth, and gave a below par effort, with everything going wrong for the chaser on the day.

Back for another season, Hobbs was hoping he could bounce back to form in the Grade Two Shloer Chase which he landed last term, but again gave a very underwhelming run which saw him pulled up before the finish.

Although it is worrying he has not shown the best of his ability on his last two starts and has been prone in the past to run below par, he is still a Grade One winning hurdler and chaser that has superstar ability and if turning up can be a big player.

Leading trainer Kim Bailey has had a superb season to date and he is looking for his first Grade One of the season with First Flow as he gives the consistent chaser his chance in this race.

The nine year old deserves his chance at the highest level having now won his last five events over fences with the gelding at the back end of last term going on to land a hat-trick of wins at Leicester, Doncaster and Carlisle and backing that up this term at Ascot and Wetherby last time out.

His first run this season came over the course and distance of the Clarence House Chase on Saturday and he was a gritty winner of a decent handicap chase.

Put into another handicap last time out at Wetherby in treacherous conditions, he just did enough in the final stages to keep his unbeaten record going and the more rain the better for this horse at the weekend.

Paul Nicholls second attack on the race is the ex Willie Mullins trained Duc Des Genievres that is best known for landing the 2019 Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham festival.

Since then the gelding very much lost his was for Mullins, putting in many below par performances and his connections decided to switch him to Nicholls.

He has been seen twice under the Ditcheat handler, sparking a bit of a revival on debut for the yard in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham when nearly making all to just finish second behind 2020 Arkle winner Put The Kettle On.

Last time out he ran to a fair standard once more finishing third behind Nube Negra and Altior in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas.

Although running better than he has done in recent times, he will need another big step up in Grade One company, with it looking like he has plenty to find with stablemate Politologue.

The gelding joined the inform Venetia Williams last season and got off the mark at the first time of asking at Newbury in a Class 3 Chase, beating some smart types.

He was then sent to Kempton for the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices' Chase and was outclassed by better rivals including Global Citizen, Rouge Vif and Grand Sancy.

This season he made his seasonal debut back over his preferred two miles and was a valiant second behind Magic Saint at Cheltenham.

He stepped up in trip last time out for the Peterborough Chase at Cheltenham when going well and unfortunately fell and now dropping back to two miles looks a smart move.

Williams has always been fond of this horse and believes he can mix it with the best chasers in the game and he gets that chance on Saturday, but heading into the race off the back of a fall is worrying.

Between 2018 and 2019 the gelding put in some nice performances when winning at Cheltenham's November meeting and placing in the Grand Annual Chase at the festival.

However, the best of his form now looks to be behind him having been destroyed in a weak Champion Chase last term and was also brushed aside on seasonal debut in the Haldon Gold Cup.

He stepped up to the Peterborough Chase at Cheltenham last time out over 2m4f and could only finish a tame fifth and although the step down in trip should help he looks opposable.

It looks like his best years are behind him and at the age of 10 looks like he is making up the numbers for a yard in poor form.

The final runner of the event is the 66/1 shot Le Patriote for Dr Richard Newland and the nine year old, although a nice horse looks out of his depth in this Grade One field.

Having been a fair hurdler winning events like the Grade Three Swinton Handicap Hurdle and Champion Hurdle Trial at Ayr, he has taken to fences fairly well.

He has his first try over the bigger obstacles at Doncaster a year ago and finished last of four runners, but this season has changed that form by winning two of his three events.

Having scored on seasonal debut at Market Rasen ahead of Pic D'Orhy, he then went to Cheltenham in the Grade Two Novices' Chase and finished a long way third behind Eldorado Allen.

He bounced back to winning ways last time out at Hereford over two miles, but although showing winning form, they have came in minor events.

Stepping into Grade One company is a totally different ball game and unless finding 25lb improvement he looks opposable.