Scheduled to take place every January at Ascot racecourse, the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase is run over a trip of two miles and one furlong, thirteen fences are jumped and the race is open to runners aged five or older.
Known at one time as the Victor Chandler Chase, the race is always an excellent guide to the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Viking Flagship (1994), Call Equiname (1999), Master Minded (2009), Sprinter Sacre (2013), Sire de Grugy (2014), Dodging Bullets (2015) and Altior (2019) have all won both races in the same year.
Un De Sceaux is the most successful horse in the race’s history, winning in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
The Clarence House Chase was first run in 1989 and was run as a handicap with victory going to the legendary chaser Desert Orchid, who produced one of his finest performances on a racecourse to claim the first prize.
In 2007 the contest was extended from two miles to two miles and one furlong, and it ceased to be handicap and was given Grade 1 status. The race is now regarded as one of the premier Grade 1 chases in the racing calendar.
The top three quickest run Clarence House Chase’s over the last 20 renewals are:
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2006 - Tysou (3:49.90)
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2004 - Isio (3:51.90)
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2003 - Young Devereaux (3:52.50)
The slowest winning time was set in 2013 when Sprinter Sacre won in a time of 4:32.68.
Clarence House Winners
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2021 - (4:18.48) First Flow 9-y-o 11-7 14/1 (David Bass/Kim Bailey)
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2020 - (4:17.72) Defi Du Seuil 7-y-o 11-7 11/10F (Barry Geraghty/Philip Hobbs)
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2019 - (4:06.30) Altior 9-y-o 11-7 1/10F (Nico de Boinville/Nicky Henderson)
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2018 - (4:26.40) Un De Sceaux 10-y-o 11-7 4/9F (Paul Townend/Willie Mullins)
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2017 - (4:11.70) Un De Sceaux 9-y-o 11-7 1/2F (Ruby Walsh/Willie Mullins)
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2016 - (4:14.70) Un De Sceaux 8-y-o 11-7 1/2F (Ruby Walsh/Willie Mullins)
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2015 - (4:08.70) Dodging Bullets 7-y-o 11-7 7/2 (Noel Fehily/Paul Nicholls)
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2014 - (4:19.10) Sire De Grugy 8-y-o 11-7 5/4F (Jamie Moore/Gary Moore)
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2013 - (4:32.68) Sprinter Sacre 7-y-o 11-7 1/5F (Barry Geraghty/Nicky Henderson)
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2012 - (4:09.10) Somersby 8-y-o 11-7 9/2 (Dominic Elsworth/Henrietta Knight)
Clarence House Statistics
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Age: 9 of the last 10 winners were aged between 7 & 9. Un De Sceaux was 10-y-o when he won his last Clarence House.
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Price: 7 of the last 10 favourites/joint-favourites have won, 9/10 winners came from the top three in the horse racing betting.
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Last Run: 8 of the last 10 winners won on their last run before the Clarence House Chase, 10/10 winners ran within the last 49 days. 6/10 winners ran in the Tingle Creek Chase (Sandown) on their last run, 6 of the 6 won.
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Previous Course Form: 10/10 winners had at least one previous run at Ascot, 6/10 winners had at least one previous victory at Ascot.
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Previous Distance Form: 10/10 winners had at least 10 previous runs over 15-17 furlongs, 10/10 had at least nine previous wins over 15-17 furlongs.
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Previous Chase Form: 10/10 winners had at least six previous chase runs, 10/10 winners had at least three previous chase wins, 10/10 winners had at least four previous chase wins.
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Rating: 9/10 winners were rated 165 or higher.
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Graded Wins: 10/10 winners had at least one previous win in a Grade 1 race, 10/10 winners had at least one win in a Grade 1-3 race.
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Season Form: 9/10 winners had at least two runs that season, 10/10 winners had at least one win that season.
Leading Trainers
The leading trainer in the Clarence House Chase over the last 20 years is Paul Nicholls who has saddled the winner five times in total.
Those being Young Devereaux (2003), Master Minded (2009), Twist Magic (2010), Master Minded (2011) & Dodging Bullets (2015).
Other trainers with multiple wins in the Clarence House Chase are Nicky Henderson (4 wins) & Willie Mullins (3 wins).
To discover whether Willie Mullins has any live contenders this year, check out our 888Sport Willie Mullins stable tour.
Well known trainers Venetia Williams and Nigel Twiston-Davies are yet to hit the board despite having sent out several runners each.
Leading Jockeys
Ruby Walsh is the leading jockey of all time in this race with four victories: Master Minded (2009), Twist Magic (2010) Un de Sceaux (2016, 2017).
Of the current crop of jockeys, Tom Scudamore (6-1-1) is the man to follow with a +£7.00 profit to a £1 stake from his six rides in the race.
Clarence House 'Trial' Races
The Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park often proves to be a key trial for the Clarence House Chase.
Furthermore, the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham is another contest that gives punters a pointer or two to this big race.
Starting Prices
After analysing the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest priced winner was First Flow in 2021 for Kim Bailey and David Bass at odds of 14/1.
If you followed the horses at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals there has been a total of 11 winning favourites picking up the silverware.
For all our 888Sport horse racing tips, including the 2021 Clarence House Chase, make sure you visit our blog.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 14th December 2021
