Keith Melrose on why the Clarence House Chase dust-up is no two-horse race
SBK Clarence House Chase (Grade 1) | 2m1f | 5yo+ | ITV4/Sky
By the time he gets the leg-up on Energumene ahead of his clash with Shishkin in the Clarence House Chase, Paul Townend will have ridden in only four races at Ascot. His only two rides over fences will have been in this Grade 1, both times on Un De Sceaux including that horse's final racecourse appearance in 2020.
Defi Du Seuil sent Un De Sceaux into retirement with his exceptional change of pace, running the uphill finish from three out at more than a second-per-furlong quicker than the overall race speed. His 12-year-old rival was left toiling and it was claimed afterwards that Townend, by setting steady fractions, had left the door open for exactly that outcome.
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Published on 21 January 2022inPreviews
Last updated 19:04, 21 January 2022
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