The Clarence House Chase at Ascot features a notable match-up between El Fabiolo and Jonbon. Both are leading two-mile chasers in Britain and Ireland. They have competed against each other before, with each having one win. This race is seen as a tie-breaker before the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Jonbon, trained by Nicky Henderson, has shown consistent performance and growth. Henderson, with six victories in this race, approaches with optimism given Jonbon's solid season so far, including wins in the Shloer Chase and the Tingle Creek.
El Fabiolo, trained by Willie Mullins, has an unblemished chase record and has performed well on right-handed tracks. Mullins has had success in the Clarence House Chase in the past, notably with Un De Sceaux. El Fabiolo's style is described as smooth and efficient, in contrast to Jonbon's more aggressive approach.
The race's tactical dynamics are anticipated to involve an assertive ride for Jonbon, with El Fabiolo likely to adopt a stalking strategy. The outcome of the race is expected to impact favouritism for the Queen Mother Chase, with both horses closely rated and possessing distinct strengths.