'One of the best I've ever been in' - stunning Shishkin beats Energumene in epic

Saturday: Ascot

Nicky Henderson called it a proper race, his jockey Nico de Boinville said it was one of the best he had been a part of, but it was the woman running down the escalator at Ascot who perhaps best summed up Shishkin’s defeat of Energumene. “That was glorious,” she exclaimed.

The racegoer was rushing with hundreds of others to make it to the winner’s enclosure to welcome back the pugilists who had fought out a compelling Clarence House Chase which delivered everything that was wished of it – and more.

Two unbeaten records over fences were on the line going into the contest, with Shishkin landing the Desert Orchid Chase on his first start outside novice company last month and Energumene doing the same when dismissing his rivals in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork.

Clarence House Chase: full result and replay

The two of them taking on each other outside the Cheltenham Festival felt like a victory itself for the Ascot crowd, who packed in around the paddock to see the runners limber up and filled the lawns in front of the stands to watch them compete.

Once the starter’s flag dropped, not one set of eyes was drawn away from the action as Energumene went forward and jockey Paul Townend asked Shishkin to come by and beat him – if he was up to the task.

Energumene (left): lost little in defeat after an epic encounterCredit: Edward Whitaker

Energumene jumped his fences efficiently and he jumped them fast, while Shishkin was scruffier as his rival asked him to exert himself at a tempo higher than previously faced in battle.

Down the hill, the unrelenting pace drew an error from Shishkin as he pecked on landing after the sixth fence. Townend pressed on, his tactics unchanged and his challenge unfaltering.

Shishkin kept tabs but it was not easy, the presence of last year’s winner First Flow – who had captured the contest 12 months ago under a dynamic and aggressive ride from David Bass – complicating matters as he tried vainly to hang in alongside the two superstars.

Clearing the last down the side, First Flow was dropped and Shishkin was hard at work with two fences remaining and the anticipation building in the stands.

Two out, Shishkin still trailed and Energumene still poured it on in front. At the final fence, it was still the Irish challenger who was clear, as he was with half a furlong and then a quarter of a furlong to go.

But it was Shishkin, the relentless, unstoppable Shishkin who fought his way back to lead with mere yards to go to claim victory. De Boinville punched the air with delight, Townend bowed his head in despair.

“It was special today because when you get that sort of build-up it creates a lot of excitement,” Henderson said. “It was a proper race.

“Two out it looked as though we were on the ropes, but one thing this horse does is try and find for you. It’s the biggest fight he’s been in today – the biggest fight they’ve both been in – and he doesn’t give up.”

It was Shishkin’s courage that gave De Boinville the confidence to believe he would catch Energumene going to the final fence, even if it took until nearly the finishing line to do so.

“I thought we were starting to get him going to the last and after that he’s just motored away,” the jockey said. “All credit to the horses in behind him because that was one of the best races I’ve ever been involved in.”

A triumphant Nico de Boinville on Shishkin after an incredible Clarence House ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

For Willie Mullins, the race produced somewhat different feelings as the trainer was left wondering how he would be able to defeat Shishkin in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

"The horse ran his heart out and Paul gave him a terrific ride,” he said. “Nico de Boinville was excellent on Shishkin and, of course, Shishkin did what he always does. He pretends to be beaten and then he nabs you on the line, although, to be fair, he usually does it a bit earlier than that.

“It's going to be difficult for us. I hope we're not going to be far away from him at Cheltenham, but it's going to be difficult to turn it around. If I was looking at it as a neutral I would say Shishkin just has the edge. God knows what he had left in the locker as well.”

'I can't stop crying' - how social media reacted to an incredible Clarence House

Bookmakers backed the view taken by Mullins, with Coral cutting Shishkin to 4-6 (from evens) while pushing Energumene out to 3-1 (from 9-4) and Paddy Power shortening the winner to 1-2 (from 11-10) for the Champion Chase in March.

The performances of Shishkin and Energumene were enough for both sets of connections to want to do it again, a point not lost on Henderson as he tried to assess quite what had just unfolded in front of him.

“The nice thing is there is going to be a rematch now,” he said. “There’s nothing between them and if we can both get them there it’s going to be fascinating and a lot of fun. But this is only round one and round two is next – and it is for the championship.”

Read more on a sensational Clarence House Chase:

'I can't stop crying' - how social media reacted to an incredible Clarence House

Clarence House analysis: start was crucial in giving us the contest we craved

What does the Shishkin v Energumene thriller mean for their Cheltenham chances?

Racing Post Ratings: How high is he? Shishkin the best since Altior as he ascends two-mile ladder (Members' Club)

Brough Scott: 'I don't think there's been anything better, and I felt lucky to be there' (Members' Club)

Lee Mottershead: This was a clash of herculean proportions, now let's hope for many more (Members' Club)

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