AFTER a fallow weekend seven days ago, the weather has kindly relented, and we have some fantastic national hunt action courtesy of Haydock Park and Ascot this afternoon.

Most purists will be looking forward to the clash of Jonbon and Energumene in the feature Clarence House Chase (Ascot, 3.32) — a race in which the former will be looking for revenge on the Nicky Henderson yard after he was gunned down late on by Shishkin in the 2022 edition, before bouncing back to win the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

After successfully defending his Cheltenham crown in 2023 and closing the season with a win at the Punchestown Festival, the Willie Mullins-trained charge was then on the sidelines through injury for fully 593 days after which he made a victorious if rather lucky winning return in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork in December.