HOPING FOR CLAR SKIES

Andy Newton crunches the numbers ahead of the Clarence House Chase

- Andy Newton

Last season's Clarence House Chase had to be rerouted to Cheltenham after Ascot was called off in the middle of the month so let's hope the weather plays ball this year.

This was the second season in-arow the race has had to be run at Prestbury Park on Trials Day due to the weather.

We also saw a shock result in the race 12 months ago, when the Joe Tizzard-trained Elixir De Nutz outgunned Jonbon by a neck - winning at 22/1 and becoming only the second double-aged winner since 1991.

This year the race is set to be run at Ascot on Saturday, January 18 and there is every chance we could see Jonbon, who was impressive again in the Tingle Creek in December, back to make amends before he heads to the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Over the years, we've seen the likes of Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre, Sire de Grugy, Dodging Bullets and Altior take the Clarence House Chase before going onto win the Champion Chase but with 14/1 and 22/1 winners in the last two runnings, then it's also thrown up a few shocks of late.

Willie Mullins, who amazingly landed the British Trainers' Championship last season, is also no stranger to winning this Ascot race having won the prize with Un De Sceaux three times in the last nine years.

It will be no surprise if he's sending one over in search of the £60k first prize as he looks to defend his trainers' title.