Ascot’s Clarence House Chase is one of Britain’s best chases for two-milers on the calendar. It’s the second of four Grade 1s on the programme and has been won by a number of great horses over the years.
Clarence House Chase: 5 Greatest Ever Winners at Ascot
Here we take a look through the history books and remember five of the most iconic winners of this race, going all the way back to the great Desert Orchid in 1989.
Clarence House Chase Winners: Desert Orchid (1989)
This race hasn’t always been a Grade 1 and in fact it used to be a handicap. Everyone’s favourite grey Desert Orchid won it in 1989, when he got the better of very smart performer Panto Prince while giving away 22lb..
It has to go down as a monstrous performance from Dessie and he went on to win the Gold Cup later that year. Whilst he’s better remembered for that and his four King George successes, the versatility of David Elsworth’s flying grey makes him an all-time great.
Clarence House Chase Winners: Master Minded (2009 & 2011)
Paul Nicholls’ electric two-mile chaser Master Minded won a handicap chase at Sandown off 145, if you can believe that. He then went on to win the Game Spirit Chase and the Champion Chase that season, whilst obliterating the field in the latter.
It’s no surprise that he lined up in the 2009 renewal of the Clarence House and even less of a surprise that he won. His four rivals weren’t in the same league as the Clive Smith-owned gelding and jockey Ruby Walsh didn’t need to move a muscle. AP McCoy was on board for Master Minded’s second Clarence House win in 2011, when he just managed to hold off Henrietta Knight’s Somersby.
Clarence House Chase Winners: Sprinter Sacre (2013)
Nicky Henderson’s hugely popular chaser is responsible for many people getting into horse racing. This powerfully-built superstar was a sight to behold over fences. He won this race in 2013 and suffered defeat at the hands of subsequent Champion Chase winner Dodging Bullets two years later. The race was moved to Cheltenham in 2013 and Sprinter Sacre was in imperious form, getting the better of the enigmatic Mad Moose by 14 lengths.
Clarence House Chase Winners: Un De Sceaux (2016, 2017 and 2018)
Legendary jockey Ruby Walsh has the record with four victories in the Clarence House and two of those came aboard fellow history-maker Un De Sceaux, who won the race three years running between 2016 and 2018.
Willie Mullins’ gelding beat some very smart horses along the way, including Sire De Grugy, Uxizandre and Dodging Bullets, two of which were former Champion Chasers while the other won a Ryanair. Un De Sceaux has to be up there as one of the greatest winners of this race.
Clarence House Chase Winners: Shishkin (2022)
The enigmatic Shishkin makes this list for winning the 2022 renewal in an epic battle with Energumene. Nicky Henderson’s gelding spent much of the race behind Willie Mullins’ challenger and looked in trouble when hitting his customary flat spot.
He wasn’t to be denied, however, and came roaring back to finish a length ahead of the Irish raider at the line. Mullins’ star got the last laugh as he went on to win the Champion Chase two months later, while Shishkin was pulled up.
By Jack Ogalbe
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