Search
12 Jan 2026
Search
12 Jan 2026
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
Il Etait Temps and Jonbon are set to lock horns for a third time in the BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday.
The pair are part of a select entry of five for the Grade One contest, won last year by the Nicky Henderson-trained Jonbon.
However, the Willie Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps has proven to be a thorn in the side of the Seven Barrows runner, readily accounting for Jonbon in the Celebration Chase at Sandown at the end of last season and repeating that in the Tingle Creek in December.
The big two might not have it all their own way, with the remarkable Thistle Ask leading the opposition. The nine-year-old was rated just 115 after leaving James Ewart to join Dan Skelton last year, but he is now four from four for his current connections and big-race wins in the Haldon Gold Cup and the Desert Orchid Chase have earned him this step up to the highest level.
Gidleigh Park is an interesting contender for Harry Fry, dropping back to two miles for the first time since winning the Lightning Novices’ Chase at Windsor on this weekend a year ago. The eight-year-old was last seen finishing second in Ascot’s 1965 Chase behind Jango Baie, who did that form no harm with an excellent effort in the King George on Boxing Day.
The potential field is completed by the Joe Tizzard-trained JPR One.
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
