Victor Chandler Chase
The Clarence House Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase 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 (3,420 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. Since 2017 it has been sponsored by the Berkshire Community Foundation.
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. Six 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) and Dodging Bullets (2015).
Most successful horse (2 wins):
Leading jockey (4 wins):
Leading trainer (5 wins):
1 The first two scheduled runnings were cancelled because of frost (1987) and fog (1988).
2 The 1994 race took place at Warwick.
3 The 1997 and 1999 editions were held at Kempton Park.
4 It was abandoned in 2003 because of frost and snow. A replacement race was run at Kempton – Tote Exacta Chase, won by Young Devereaux.
5 The race was switched to Cheltenham in 2005.
6 The 2006 running took place at Sandown Park.
7 It was cancelled in 2007 due to a waterlogged course.
8 The 2013 race took place at Cheltenham after the original fixture at Ascot was abandoned due to snow
9 The 2017 race took place at Cheltenham after the original fixture at Ascot was abandoned due to frost.
...
Wikipedia