Clarence House Chase Betting Tips, Odds and Offers

There are many informative National Hunt contests run in January. In terms of the chasing game, few are more useful at pinpointing future success than the Clarence House Chase. Here we take a look at the best odds and offers surrounding this Ascot event and provide our betting tips for the race.

This 2m1f Heritage Handicap was first run at Ascot in 1989 and is now a Grade 1 affair open to chasers aged five and older and rated 130+. With £125,000 in total prize money on offer, this is an early season pot well worth winning.

Clarence House Chase Tips and Betting Offers, 3:35, 18th January 2020

The 2020 Clarence House Chase is only set to feature five horses. Racing fans would obviously prefer a bigger field for this Grade 1 contest but there is still plenty to be excited about. The story of the race is sure to revolve around the top two in the betting, Defi Du Seuil and Un De Sceaux as the top two in the Tingle Creek Chase renew their rivalry at Ascot.

Defi Du Seuil to Come On for Sandown Win

The 2 mile chasing division is shaping up to be very exciting as the build up to the Cheltenham Festival continues. Altior’s crown has slipped, opening the door to several horses who are in with a chance of winning the Champion Chase in March.

As we head into the Clarence House Chase it’s Defi Du Seuil who is the tentative favourite for the champion 2 mile race of the season. Philip Hobbs and all connected to the seven-year-old are hopeful that his price will be cut following a big run at Ascot on Saturday.

Defi Du Seuil’s win in the Tingle Creek Chase suggests that he has the class required to go on to win the Champion Chase. Some were concerned that he didn’t win by a more comfortable margin given the lead he had when clearing the last fence but when you view the performance as a whole it’s tough not to be impressed. Moreover, Hobbs is expecting Defi Du Seuil to improve for that run so he may well peak for Cheltenham which was always the goal.

Classy Veteran May Just Come Up Short

It’s not just connections of Defi Du Seuil who are expecting a big improvement from their horse on Saturday. The hugely popular Un De Sceaux should come on for his own big run in the Tingle Creek.

Willie Mullins has had to change the tactics for the 11-year-old as he’s aged. He cannot win from the front any more but he now excels waiting just off the pace before striking for home. That was the plan at Sandown where he really served it up to the favourite, without being able to win.

If it were a simple case of Un De Sceaux improving, he would have a real chance of reversing the form against Defi Du Seuil. However, the favourite is set to improve as well so this looks a tough assignment for Mullins’ charge.

Can Capeland Throw Up a Challenge

Having an each way bet in a five runner race is not always an attractive proposition but the 20/1 that Betfred are quoting about Capeland’s chances does look worth a small stakes play.

The eight-year-old will need his best performance by some distance to win the Clarence House Chase. He didn’t exactly look outclassed when he made the step up to the Grade 2 level in the Desert Orchid Chase last time out and he has winning form at Ascot so a place could be within his grasp.

Betting Predictions

Despite Capeland’s appeal as an outsider, it’s tough to look past the top two in the betting. Un De Sceaux would be a very popular winner were he to get the job done but Defi Du Seuil is a horse very much on the up and can head to Cheltenham on the back of another big win so snap up the evens that Coral are quoting on the favourite’s chances.

Clarence House Chase Previous Winners

  • 2019 – Altior – jockey Nico de Boinville, trainer Nicky Henderson
  • 2018 – Un de Sceaux – jockey Paul Townend, trainer Willie Mullins
  • 2017 – Un de Sceaux – jockey Ruby Walsh, trainer Willie Mullins
  • 2016 – Un de Sceaux – jockey Ruby Walsh, trainer Willie Mullins
  • 2015 – Dodging Bullets – jockey Noel Fehily, trainer Paul Nicholls
  • 2014 – Sire de Grugy – jockey Jamie Moore, trainer Gary Moore
  • 2013 – Sprinter Sacre – jockey Barry Geraghty, trainer Nicky Henderson
  • 2012 – Somersby – jockey Dominic Elsworth, trainer Henrietta Knight
  • 2011 – Master Minded – jockey Tony McCoy, trainer Paul Nicholls
  • 2010 – Twisted Magic – jockey Ruby Walsh, trainer Paul Nicholls
  • 2009 – Master Minded – jockey Ruby Walsh, trainer Paul Nicholls
  • 2008 – Tamarinbleu – jockey Tom Scudamore, trainer David Pipe
  • 2007 – no race
  • 2006 – Tysou – jockey Mick Fitzgerald, trainer Nicky Henderson

Clarence House Chase History

Taking its name from the Royal residence situated in Westminster, which has housed the late Queen Mother and Prince Charles in its time, this race was first run in 1989 as a handicap contest. Initially scheduled to make its debut in 1987, the two year delay came as a result of the uncooperative weather. The elements have continued to plague the event with the race having to be diverted to Warwick, Kempton, Cheltenham and Sandown during its lifetime. The class of horse participating and the prestige of this event have only continued to grow over the years, with the contest finally attaining Grade 1 status in 2007.

The race certainly got off to a flyer in terms of the quality of its winner, with no less than the all-time greatest grey, Desert Orchid, shouldering a record 12st on his way to victory in the inaugural edition. The four time King George winner would no doubt be the races best ever winner in the eyes of many, but he does have some pretty stiff competition.

Often proving to be one of the key trials for Cheltenham’s Queen Mother Champion Chase, superstars of the chasing game have continued to come home in front in this with regularity over the years. Viking Flagship, Call Equiname, Master Minded, Sire de Grugy, Dodging Bullets, Martha’s Son and the imperious Sprinter Sacre all went on to later Cheltenham success having prevailed here. In terms of sheer class and ability, it is the Nicky Henderson great, Sprinter Sacre who tops our list here.

With five wins in the race as of 2018, Nicky Henderson has a pretty solid record. Not quite as solid as that of his big rival Paul Nicholls though. With five wins in all, including two from the one of two horses to ever win this twice, Master Minded, it is Nicholls who sits atop the trainers tree. The other three-time winning horse is the Willie Mullins-trained Un De Sceaux who won in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

An Englishman may lead the way amongst the trainers, but it is the Irish who are out in front in the jockey’s ranks. Ruby Walsh has now ridden four winners of this fine race (Paul Townend was in the saddle of the winner in 2018).