Ascot preview: Tom Collins provides his tips on Clarence House Chase day

Shishkin versus Energumene. Are you ready? The Grade 1 SBK Clarence House Chase headlines an exceptional seven-race card at Ascot on Saturday. With good to soft ground forecast and a packed grandstand expected, the horse racing public is set to be treated to one of the best days of action so far this season. 

What could make it better? Finding a few winners, of course. Tipster Tom Collins is on hand to provide a race-by-race guide of the Ascot card.

12.35 SBK Betting Podcast Juvenile Hurdle

The first place to start in any juvenile hurdle is to check for representatives from the Alan King stable. The Barbury Castle-based trainer has excelled with his runners in this division throughout his training career and it’s no surprise that he has won four of the last eight renewals of the Ascot opener. 

King runs Restitution and Twilight Twist in this year’s six-runner field and preference is for the latter, who landed a Wolverhampton novice as a two-year-old and has made a smooth transition to jumping this season. 

After making a winning hurdling debut, Twilight Twist pressed subsequent Grade 2 Summit Hurdle fourth Too Friendly all the way at Newcastle, before catching the eye after losing valuable momentum coming down the hill at Cheltenham. That performance can be marked up given the circumstances and a similar effort should suffice.

Recommended bet: Twilight Twist at 3.15

1.10 SBK Handicap Chase

Peter Bowen rarely makes the 450-mile round trip from Pembrokeshire to Ascot, especially with just one horse, so Downtown Getaway’s presence in the field for this 3m handicap chase has to be noted. 

The former Nicky Henderson-trained nine-year-old is clearly best suited by flat tracks and is unbeaten at Ascot courtesy of a short-head victory in a novice hurdle in January 2019. 

He hasn’t proved the easiest horse to train in the interim and the fact that Henderson and Willie Mullins were happy to let him go is a concern, but Downtown Getaway returned to form with a bang at Ffos Las last time out and remains extremely well handicapped off a mark of 125.

Recommended bet: Downtown Getaway at 6.4

1.45 SBK Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle

Promising 3m hurdlers Craigneiche (2021) and Thomas Darby (2020) have plundered this contest recently, and this year’s field certainly lives up to expectation with a number of lightly raced and improving types set to clash in a red-hot betting heat.

The market is headed by Garry Clermont and Unexpected Party, both of whom have risen up the weights after placing in similar company last time out. It’s hard to believe there is value in their current odds and it’s worth taking them on with the well-handicapped Smurphy Enki.

Fourth behind I Am Maximus and My Drogo in a Cheltenham bumper last season, Smurphy Enki made a great start to his hurdling career and was considered good enough to run in the Grade 1 Tolworth this time last year. Unfortunately the ground went against him that day and he’s struggled in two starts this season, but the return to a longer trip should spark improvement.

Recommended bet: Smurphy Enki at 9.6

2.20 SBK Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 2)

Irish challenger My Sister Sarah and import Western Victory boast sound form claims in this 2m7½f mares’ hurdle, while Anythingforlove has already struck at this level under Page Fuller and shouldn’t be overlooked.

But, in Molly Ollys Wishes, that trio faces a talented opponent who is unbeaten in her last four starts in mares-only races and remains open to improvement over stamina-sapping trips. Last seen tackling star stayers Buzz and Song For Someone in the Ascot Hurdle, Molly Ollys Wishes now finds herself in much calmer waters with regular rider Harry Skelton regaining the ride.

It was surprising that she didn’t open a warm favourite in the antepost market, which is now beginning to take the correct shape.

Recommended bet: Molly Ollys Wishes at 3.2

2.55 bet365 Handicap Chase

Fanion D’Estruval may have produced the best performance we have seen all season in handicap company when he romped home off topweight in a Class 2 event at Newbury 57 days ago. 

The Venetia Williams trainee, who has competed in Grade 1 or 2 company in all-but three races since being brought from France, proved his class with a bloodless front-running success and will look to produce a replica performance off 8lb higher at Ascot.

Williams, who has an impressive 57% strike-rate (4-7) with her chasers at Ascot this term, has booked sharp 7lb claiming amateur Lucy Turner for the ride, while the slight step up in trip to 2m5f should suit Fanion D’Estruval on the evidence of his strong-staying fourth in the Old Roan Chase earlier this term.

Recommended bet: Fanion D’Estruval at 6.6

3.35 SBK Clarence House Chase (Grade 1) 

This is the race we have all been waiting for since last winter - Shishkin and Energumene, two of the most exciting 2m chasers we have ever seen, will finally face off in a mouthwatering edition of the Clarence House Chase. Don’t forget about last year’s winner, First Flow, either.

Although there is little room for manoeuvre in the market from a value perspective, Shishkin, who produced a career-best effort in the Desert Orchid Chase on his seasonal reappearance, has less to prove than Energumene and warrants favouritism. 

Unbeaten in ten completed starts, Shishkin jumps best when he is able to chase a strong gallop, which he should get here with the aforementioned Energumene and First Flow boasting high cruising speeds and a want for clean air. Expect Nico de Boinville to punch the sky as Shishkin conquers his Irish counterpart.

Recommended bet: Shishkin at 1.75

4.05 SBK British EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle

Get your notebook or tracker at the ready as this novice hurdle is sure to produce numerous subsequent winners. Monbeg Genius and Jerrash shaped like future stars on their most recent outings, while Galia Des Liteuax cantered home to make a winning debut for the in-form Dan Skelton team.

The horse I like, however, is Charles Ritz for trainer Tom George. Overlooked in the market due to unfashionable connections, Charles Ritz caught the eye when runner-up to a dual subsequent winner in his point-to-point and travelled beautifully en route to an easy success at Southwell on rules debut in December.

He denied a useful prospect in Sayadam that day, and the pair drew 25 lengths clear of Kayf Hernando, who had won at Carlisle and competed in Grade 2 company earlier in the season. Charles Ritz has little to find on figures and can upset the applecart in the finale.

Recommended bet: Charles Ritz at 7