Clarence House Chase set to be run at Cheltenham next Saturday

The Clarence House Chase has been moved to Cheltenham next week following the cancellation of Ascot's six-race card on Saturday.

Ascot was among a number of tracks forced to cancel meetings this week due to frozen ground but the BHA confirmed the Grade 1 has been rescheduled and that it will be sponsored by Albert Bartlett, having been set to be backed by fashion company LK Bennett.

The regulator said the move was possible thanks to the support of the Levy Board, which will pay the normal rate prize-money and an additional contribution to a total of £46,000.

The £90,000 Clarence House Chase, which had to be moved to Cheltenham in 2013 and 2017, attracted three declarations, with Champion Chase winner Energumene set to take on last month's Tingle Creek winner Edwardstone and the outsider Amarillo Sky. Energumene's trainer Willie Mullins has indicated his star chaser is an intended runner at Cheltenham for the rearranged contest.

There were eight entries for the original race but Fugitif, Funambule Sivola, Minella Drama, Messire Des Obeaux and Sizing Pottsie were not declared.

Their connections will have an opportunity to enter again next week. As per the BHA policy on rescheduling early closing races, the race will revert to the original entry stage and progress through confirmations on Monday before final declarations on Thursday.

Cheltenham is set to stage nine races, including the Grade 2 Paddy Power Cotswold Chase and the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase, rescheduled from the track's cancelled meeting in November.

The Clarence House was won last season by Shishkin, who denied Energumene in a thrilling contest at Ascot before he reversed the places at the festival in March. The race has been won by a number of Champion Chase winners, including Altior and Sprinter Sacre.

Mullins won the last time the race was run at Cheltenham with Un De Sceaux, who landed the second of his three victories in the race when beating Uxizandre under Ruby Walsh.

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