The Clarence House Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong (2 miles and 167 yards, or 3,371 metres), and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in January.
The event was sponsored from its inauguration to 2013 by the bookmaker Victor Chandler. It was registered as the Clarence House Chase, but it was usually referred to by its sponsored title. In 2014 the race reverted to its registered title and the sponsorship was taken over by Sodexo. In 2018 it was sponsored by Royal Salute Whisy and since 2019 Matchbook betting exchange have sponsored the race.
The first running was planned to have taken place in 1987. However, it was abandoned that year due to frost, and also the following year because of fog. Originally it was a handicap race, and its distance was set at 2 miles (3,219 metres). In 2005 and 2006, while its usual home was closed for redevelopment, the event was temporarily switched to alternative venues. Upon returning to Ascot the race's regular distance was extended by a furlong. In 2007 it was promoted to Grade 1 status, and it ceased to be run as a handicap.
The race often includes some of the leading contenders for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Seven horses have won both races in the same season – Viking Flagship (1994), Call Equiname (1999), Master Minded (2009), Sprinter Sacre (2013), Sire De Grugy (2014), Dodging Bullets (2015) and Altior (2019).
Records Most successful horse (3 wins): Un de Sceaux – 2016, 2017, 2018
Leading jockey (4 wins): Ruby Walsh – Master Minded (2009), Twist Magic (2010) Un de Sceaux (2016, 2017)
Leading trainer (8 wins): Nicky Henderson - Big Matt (1996), Isio (2004), Tysou (2006), Sprinter Sacre (2013), Altior (2019), Shishkin (2022), Jonbon (2025,2026)
Winners As a handicap race Weights given in stones and pounds. Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer 1987 no race 1987–88 1989 Desert Orchid 10 12-00 Simon Sherwood David Elsworth 1990 Meikleour 11 10-00 Derek Byrne Jimmy FitzGerald 1991 Blitzkreig 8 10-04 Tommy Carmody Edward O'Grady 1992 Waterloo Boy 9 11-10 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson 1993 Sybillin 7 10-10 Mark Dwyer Jimmy FitzGerald 1994 Viking Flagship 7 10-10 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson 1995 Martha's Son 8 10-09 Rodney Farrant Tim Forster 1996 Big Matt 8 10-04 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson 1997 Ask Tom 8 10-10 Russ Garritty Tom Tate 1998 Jeffell 8 10–11 Conor O'Dwyer Arthur Moore 1999 Call Equiname 9 11-03 Robert Thornton Paul Nicholls 2000 Nordance Prince 9 10-00 Tony McCoy Venetia Williams 2001 Function Dream 9 10–11 Anthony Ross Mary Reveley 2002 Turgeonev 7 10-04 Richard McGrath Tim Easterby 2003 no race 2003 2004 Isio 8 10-05 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson 2005 Well Chief 6 11-10 Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe 2006 Tysou 9 11-02 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson
As a conditions race Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 2007 no race 2007 2008 Tamarinbleu 8 Tom Scudamore David Pipe 2009 Master Minded 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2010 Twist Magic 8 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2011 Master Minded 8 Tony McCoy Paul Nicholls 2012 Somersby 8 Dominic Elsworth Henrietta Knight 2013 Sprinter Sacre 7 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2014 Sire De Grugy 8 Jamie Moore Gary Moore 2015 Dodging Bullets 7 Noel Fehily Paul Nicholls 2016 Un de Sceaux 8 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2017 Un de Sceaux 9 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2018 Un de Sceaux 10 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2019 Altior 9 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2020 Defi Du Seuil 7 Barry Geraghty Philip Hobbs 2021 First Flow 9 David Bass Kim Bailey 2022 Shishkin 8 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2023 Editeur Du Gite 9 Niall Houlihan Gary Moore 2024 Elixir De Nutz 10 Freddie Gingell Joe Tizzard 2025 Jonbon 9 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2026 Jonbon 10 James Bowen Nicky Henderson
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
pedigreequery.com – Victor Chandler (Clarence House) Chase – Ascot.
External links Race Recordings (1989–2011) youtube.com