Shishkin gets better of Energumene in classic Clarence House Chase duel

The long-awaited first meeting between Shishkin and Energumene lived up to every expectation here on Saturday, as two exceptional chasers duelled around two miles at Ascot before Shishkin edged in front in the final strides, having jumped the final fence with a length still to find.

There was a huge roar from the stands as the two horses battled towards the line, with Energumene attempting to cling on to a lead he had held from the off. Ultimately, his first trip to Britain ended in defeat by a length, but a pulsating and unforgettable race has now set up a rematch in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March which will surely be the race of the Festival.

Money had arrived for Energumene throughout the day and he set off as the 5-4 second-favourite, from 13-8 on Saturday morning, with Shishkin at 4-5. Willie Mullins’s chaser was odds-on in running until the final strides, however, as Paul Townend set a fierce pace in front and Shishkin made the first jumping error early on the second circuit.

Lingfield Park 

12.50 Our Jester1.20 Ballygrifincottage1.50 War Lord (nb)2.25 Darver Star3.00 Dashel Drasher3.35 Pemberley (nap)

Warwick 

1.10 Saint Segal1.40 Fearless2.15 Theatre Glory 2.50 Lydford3.25 Keltus4.00 Kimberlite Candy

Energumene was 9-1 on in running between the final two fences but he had not shaken off Shishkin and Nicky Henderson’s chaser needed to find an astonishing turn of foot to claim the win at the end of such a well-run race.

“I don’t get excited very often,” Nick de Boinville, Shishkin’s jockey, said after pulling up, “but going down the hill flat out on these two, me and Paul [Townend], the thrill and exhilaration of doing that is hard to buy.

“He had to be so gutsy. Great champions always find