Townend and De Boinville ready for another Ascot blockbuster

Paul Townend and Nico de Boinville are relishing another big-race clash in the BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

It is three years since the leading riders went head-to-head in a highly-anticipated renewal of the Grade One contest, with De Boinville and Shishkin narrowly outpointing the Townend-ridden Energumene in a race that lived up to its billing and then some.

Dual Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Energumene has suffered only two defeats in 13 starts over fences and both have come in the Clarence House, having also finished a disappointing third behind Editeur Du Gite and Edwardstone in a rearranged running at Cheltenham in 2023.

The Willie Mullins-trained 11-year-year-old missed the entirety of last season through injury, but proved the fire still burns brightly on his return in last month’s Hilly Way at Cork and Townend is hopeful he can make it third time lucky in this weekend’s feature event.

“He came out of Cork well and I’m looking forward to another crack at Nico and hopefully we’ll get the better of him,” said Townend, speaking at Clonmel on Wednesday.

“Every day you get to ride him is a good day and he seems to be fine since Cork.”

On the same card the six-time champion jockey is set to partner the returning Kargese in the Grade Two BetMGM Mares’ Hurdle.

The five-year-old will be a warm order on her first competitive appearance since winning the juvenile Grade One at the Punchestown Festival in May last year.

“Travelling for her first run of the season isn’t ideal, as Willie always says, but she’s strengthened up massively and is ready to go,” Townend added.

De Boinville has two Clarence House Chase victories on his illustrious CV, with Shishkin’s triumph preceded by the dominant success of the brilliant Altior in 2019.

This weekend he will be on board another Nicky Henderson star in Jonbon, who is fresh from making it back-to-back wins in the Tingle Creek at Sandown and is gunning for a ninth top-level victory.

Speaking before racing at Newbury, De Boinville told Sky Sports Racing: “We take on Energumene and all the other old characters that seem to be turning up in these races. Hopefully it will be a good contest and it should put a few bums on seats as well.

“You don’t know which Energumene is going to turn up. He’s getting on as well, not that Jonbon is – we’re taking him on with a younger rival.

“It was a great day back then (with Shishkin), but Saturday is another race and we’ll take it as such.

“I think Jonbon is a horse that thrives on his racing and he’s come out of Sandown really well. This has always been the plan and sets us up nicely.”