El Fabiolo and Jonbon on course for Clarence House showdown - but only two others entered against them

The much-anticipated clash between El Fabiolo and Jonbon could feature just two other runners after Saturday's BetMGM Clarence House Chase (3.37) at Ascot attracted four entries. 

The leading two-milers are set for an early meeting before the Champion Chase in March, with the pair both unbeaten this season heading into this weekend's Grade 1 contest. 

Jonbon will seek to extend his winning streak to five for Nicky Henderson following his most recent victory in the Tingle Creek last month, but who will ride him remains undecided with Nico de Boinville hoping to return in time from a broken collarbone sustained at the end of last month. 

James Bowen is primed to step in as deputy should De Boinville fail to recover and would be having his first ride on the JP McManus-owned eight-year-old, who has climbed to a career-high rating of 170. 

The score is one apiece between Jonbon and El Fabiolo heading into Saturday, with the Willie Mullins-trained runner coming out on top in the pair's last meeting in the Arkle before going on to win at the Punchestown festival and then claim the Hilly Way Chase on his reappearance last month. 

With £18,567 awarded to the third-placed finisher and £9,275 for fourth, the contest is an attractive proposition for the connections of Unexpected Party and Elixir De Nutz, who are the only other runners entered. 

The Dan Skelton-trained Unexpected Party would be the lowest-rated runner in the field off a mark of 141 but the nine-year-old also holds an entry for the 2m5f handicap chase (2.25) earlier on the card. 

Jonbon is a top-priced 7-4 for the contest with Coral who make El Fabiolo the 1-2 favourite. Spokesman Dave Stevens said: "Elixir De Nutz and Unexpected Party make up the quartet of entries at 16-1 and 100-1 respectively, but with due respect to that pair, this weekend's Clarence House Chase is all about the big two, with El Fabiolo favoured to cement his position as odds-on favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and take a 2-1 lead over Saturday's second favourite, Jonbon."

BetMGM Clarence House Chase entries

• El Fabiolo
• Elixir De Nutz
• Jonbon
• Unexpected Party

Paddy Power: 4-7 El Fabiolo, 5-4 Jonbon, 33 Elixir De Nutz, 50 Unexpected Party.

Royale Pagaille entered for Peter Marsh defence

Royale Pagaille: winner of the Betfair Chase this seasonCredit: John Grossick

Saturday's action also includes the Sky Bet Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (3.15) at Haydock, which has attracted a more substantial field with 15 entries for the 3m1½f Premier handicap. 

Heading the weights is the Betfair Chase winner Royale Pagaille, who is bidding for a third consecutive success in the race for Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch. 

Also likely to feature is the Welsh National winner Iwilldoit and the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Monbeg Genius, who was third in the Coral Gold Cup on his latest start. 

Fifteen entries were also made for Haydock's Grade 2 Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle (2.05), with the promising Henderson-trained runner Southoftheborder and the hat-trick-seeking Fiercely Proud among the contenders. 

Sky Bet Peter Marsh Handicap Chase entries

• Blackjack Magic
• Burrows Diamond
• Cap Du Nord
• Elvis Mail
• Famous Bridge
• Git Maker
• Iwilldoit
• Kilbeg King
• Mint Condition
• Mister Coffey
• Monbeg Genius
• Not Sure
• Royale Pagaille
• Snipe
• Up Helly AA King

Grade 1 stars primed for Sunday's Fleur De Lys 

The Winter Million festival at Lingfield concludes on Sunday with the Fleur De Lys Chase (3.00) and the valuable prize has attracted a top-class field including Protektorat and L'Homme Presse. 

The two Grade 1 winners feature among eight entries for the headline race of Sunday's Premier meeting, with more than £85,000 on offer to the winner. 

The contest has long been the target of Protektorat, whose last victory came over a year ago in the Betfair Chase, after he shaped well in his first start in chasing handicap company when third behind Broadway Boy at Cheltenham last month. 

The nine-year-old's chief rival will be the two-time Grade 1 winner L'Homme Presse, who could make his first start since unseating at the final fence of the 2022 King George. 

December Gold Cup winner Fugitif and graduation chase scorer Excello also feature, while Ireland could be represented by the Gavin Cromwell-trained Limerick Lace.  

Fleur De Lys Chase entries

• Does He Know
• Excello
• Fugitif
• Full Back
• Highland Hunter
• Iwilldoit
• L'Homme Presse
• Limerick Lace
• Protektorat

Coral: 10-11 L’Homme Presse, 2 Protektorat, 13-2 Fugitif, 8 Limerick Lace, 14 Excello, 16 Does He Know, 20 Highland Hunter, Iwilldoit, 33 Full Back 

Read more:

What's on this week: Premier racing, Lingfield's Winter Million and a blockbuster clash between Jonbon and El Fabiolo 

'We're ready to go for what might be a big battle' - Nicky Henderson has Jonbon primed for El Fabiolo Ascot clash 

'He rode three lots this morning' - Nico de Boinville back 15 days after breaking collarbone 

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