Ratings Update: Reaction from Sandown, Huntingdon and Ireland

Two of the leading contenders for the Queen Mother Champion Chase were in action over the weekend and both enhanced their claims with clear-cut wins at short odds. At Sandown, Jonbon ran right up to his best (172) to land the odds in the Tingle Creek Chase, following up his success in the Shloer Chase, just as he did last year, though his eight-length victory over Poplar Square Chase winner Quilixios (161 from 159) was an improvement on last month’s win at Cheltenham. Haldon Gold Cup winner JPR One (158 from 155) also improved his rating slightly in third. The wonderfully consistent Jonbon, 5/2 favourite for the Champion Chase in most lists, will keep to last season’s programme by going for the Clarence House Chase next having met with one of his only two defeats in last year’s rescheduled renewal at Cheltenham.

The Clarence House is also the race in which Energumene has suffered his only two defeats over fences, including in a memorable duel with Jonbon’s ill-fated stablemate Shishkin at Ascot in 2022 in which Energumene earned a career-high rating of 180. Energumene went on to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase that season and retained his title the following year but hadn’t been seen since winning his second Champion Chase at Punchestown in April 2023 until returning in Sunday’s Hilly Way Chase at Cork, a race he had won twice before.

One of six Willie Mullins-trained runners in the field of eight, Energumene went with all his old zest in front and shaped as though retaining his ability, though the bare form of the Hilly Way can’t be rated that highly. Energumene’s performance figure on the day was 162 and his master rating has been pulled down slightly to 177. He didn't post the best performance at the weights, either, with Banbridge (168 from 164), trying to concede the winner 10 lb, in the process of running a career-best and set to finish second when unseating at the last, leaving Energumene ten lengths clear. Energumene is now as low as 5/1 to regain his Champion Chase crown, though stablemate Gaelic Warrior (rated 169) is ahead of him in the betting and is due back at Leopardstown at Christmas which could set up a mouth-watering clash between Jonbon and Energumene in the Clarence House.

Djelo an improved performer this season

There were also some high-class chasers in opposition in Sunday’s Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon, though in the heavy ground only Djelo (162+ from 151p), for the in-form stable of Venetia Williams, gave his running, making it a tricky race to assess. Djelo had caught the eye behind JPR One at Exeter on his reappearance and is clearly an improved performer this season, with next month’s Fleur de Lys Chase (won by stablemate L’Homme Presse last year), run at Windsor this season, appealing as on obvious next target. Protektorat (remains 165), who failed to settle, nonetheless plugged on to take second from Ginny’s Destiny (156 from 160p) who has made an underwhelming start to the campaign.

A valuable card at Kelso on Sunday featured the first running of the Richard Landale Memorial Handicap Chase over two miles and a furlong worth nearly £40,000 to the winner. Victory went to the tenacious Nells Son (152 from 143) by a neck but it was last month’s Cheltenham winner Matata (161 from 157) who shaped best in second conceding the winner 9 lb, forcing the pace and headed only on the run-in having looked in control two out.

Back at Sandown, they staged a couple of graded novice chases over their two-day meeting. Gordon Elliott sent over a couple of runners for the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase but neither proved a match for Dan Skelton’s L’Eau du Sud (153p from 149p) who made it three out of three over fences despite not jumping so well as he had at Cheltenham the time before, perhaps because of the testing conditions. He’ll improve further, having kept on well on the run-in from Touch Me Not (148 from 148p) who made much of the running.

There was a good field for the Esher Novices’ Chase the day before when Ben Pauling’s Handstands (142p from 130p) put a fall on his chasing debut behind him with a sound round of jumping and had too much speed for his rivals on his first attempt at three miles. He’s sure to improve further and win more races, while there were promising chasing debuts in third and fourth from Saint Davy (138p) and Welcom To Cartries (136p) for the O’Neills and Paul Nicholls respectively.

Winners from Navan's card worth noting

Saturday’s beginners' chase at Navan looks like being a rich source of winners and favourite Ile Atlantique (148p), placed twice in Grade 1 novice hurdles, created a big impression with a smart performance on his chasing debut, jumping well in the main in front and coming home nine lengths clear. Fitted with a tongue strap, he saw things out better than had sometimes been the case over hurdles and looks one to follow for Energumene’s owner Tony Bloom. Runner-up Waterford Whispers (139p) is very much a chaser on looks and won’t be long winning over fences after shaping very well under hands and heels.

There was a very smart performance from the winner of Navan’s Foxrock Handicap Chase with the unexposed Sa Fureur (155 from 152) justifying favouritism in a big field with plenty in hand after travelling well, though he could be forced into graded company after this. At Cork, Only By Night (141p from 131p) continued her hugely encouraging start to her chasing career with an impressive win in the Grade 2 mares' novice chase after jumping accurately and will be well worth her chance in stronger company.

It was a quieter weekend on the hurdling front, though at Navan Champion Bumper winner Jasmin de Vaux (135p) landed the odds in a maiden despite a novicey round of jumping on his hurdling debut but looks a smart prospect. The Yellow Clay (remains 140p) had been sixth behind Jasmin de Vaux at Cheltenham and while he didn’t need to improve to keep his unbeaten record over hurdles in the Grade 2 Navan Novice Hurdle, he showed a great attitude to get up for a neck win and remains a novice to be excited about. He heads the betting for the Albert Bartlett, though the Baring Bingham still appeals as a more suitable Festival target.

Bill Joyce (131p from 116p) had been only 7/1 when finishing in rear in the Champion Bumper and has made a good start over hurdles. He could prove an Albert Bartlett type himself as he showed plenty of stamina to win Sandown’s Winter Novices’ Hurdle in which three of the six runners pulled up. The going on the hurdles course was even more testing on Saturday but Henri The Second (136+ from 125+) clearly relished the opportunity to tackle a staying trip for the first time in the Pertemps Qualifier and kept on well to win by 18 lengths, looking likely to win more races now that he has found his niche.