A race that ultimately has had so much excitement around it considering we never got it in the Arkle, and it certainly lived up to its expectations didn't it?
Energumene laid it all on the line from the start with his front running tactics and when his rival Shishkin hitting a flat spot coming round the final bend it looked as though the game was up...
I'm going to take you through an insight into my week and on the day building up to the clash, and my reaction once the dust has settled so let's take a look back at it all.
Monday
By this point the clash became an important step closer, with both horses being entered for the Clarence House on Saturday at Ascot.
In the build up we already knew that Nicky Henderson had given the green light for Shishkin to run, and Willie Mullins always loves a challenge so it was looking that barring any freak accidents it was going to be game on.
I think it's important to mention at this point as well, that both trainers through doing this have shown it's definitely not all about the festival in March.
We all know that people have heavily criticised the fact that the only focus of the jumps is and always will be the festival, but it couldn't be far from the truth.
Everyday racing is fascinating to watch and be involved with no matter what kind of racing is going on, and you will always find a contest somewhere which excites you and makes you want to watch it, no matter if it's at Wolverhampton or whether it's at Aintree, the racing is still a thrill.
Thursday
Declarations are now out and it's all official, the Clarence House has one of the most exciting clashes of the year already in it.
Shishkin opens up as favourite which is expected from what we have seen from him, he's looked untouchable so far and has looked every ounce like a machine which his trainer thinks he is.
I look on Twitter to see what the racing public are saying, I see one somewhere saying don't forget about First Flow in the race, and you obviously can't forget about any of the four in the race but, I can't see either him or Amoola Gold getting anywhere near these two, unless something happens which isn't in the script of course.
Paul Townend also books a full weekend over in England, with a visit to Lingfield for the Winter Million on the Friday and Sunday, he'll hoping it'll be one worth while, even though he knows as well as Nico De Boinville does that this could just be the start of this exciting rivalry.
We have been here before though of course with Cyrname and Altior and look what happened to them two afterwards so, it must still be approached with caution this clash.
Saturday
The big day has arrived, both still entered and Shishkin still holding favouritism over his rival.
It's not Nicky Henderson's only good thing that's running on the day though, as Jonbon looks to take another step forward on his road to the Supreme with a assignment at Haydock.
He wins at odds of 2/5, but during running he touches Evens and Aidan Coleman has to get serious to make sure he gets the message and his response wasn't instant either.
After not looking as though he was going to go past for a brief period, he eventually goes past on the run in to land the Class 1, but the big questions can now be asked for the first time, is he going to be good enough based on that run to beat Constitution Hill or Dysart Dynamo? Time will only tell...
The countdown to the big one is still on though, and won't stop just because Jonbon has had a slight wobble at Haydock, and we are now all set for the one all us racing fans wanted to be able to watch today.
Down at the start Shishkin is now 4/5 and Energumene is 5/4, both growing closer and closer together as the start time nears.
I'm sat on the sofa, we all know I'll soon be up out of my seat but, I'm ready, and so is everyone else, and the starters flag goes up...
At 3:36pm the starter lets them go, and we are off and racing for the Clarence House Chase.
Two miles is out in front of the four runner field, and Energumene takes an early lead from First Flow going down to the first.
Shishkin is sat in third, with Boinville squeezing him along to get him into his stride and get him in a good position so he gets a good look at the first fence, with Amoola Gold tucked up away at the back of the field.
The first few fences are all about finding that rhythm, like every musician does after they've sang the first few notes, and everyone has got into one, as the four horses lurk up the Ascot straight for the first time in the contest.
Energumene is still out in front, looking to make all and give Willie Mullins what would be a satisfying victory after he missed out on the Arkle with his horse, First Flow and Shishkin are both behind the leader
They now head out on their final circuit and this is where the pressure is ramped up another notch.
First Amoola Gold becomes detached by seven or so lengths at the back of the field, before First Flow then makes one or two less than fluent leaps as the two outsiders are starting to feel the pinch.
Energumene looks under no pressure still out in front though, Townend still riding with reins of glass, while Shishkin is also still tanking along in second, as the race continues to build up to the climax.
The wobble
Then out of nothing Shishkin blinks first, a slight pitch on landing needs Boinville to reorganise his mount while Energumene still continues in his usual rhythm, Townend not knowing what has gone on behind him.
As we start to turn into the straight Boinville gets lower and lower in the saddle and commits first to coming off the bridle, seeming as though as he has hit his flat spot, and now the chips are well and truly down as the question now glares every racing fan watching this, what does he find?
The end
We turn in then, Shishkin still being asked questions, but now, he's joined by Energumene, who also now is asked to go and win his race by Paul Townend.
Down to two out, and Townend still has the lead on Energumene and also has the rails to support him and straighten up his mount as he flies over, Shishkin is on the outside and hasn't been seen off yet though as we head down to the last fence with the race still well and truly in the balance.
I'm out of my chair by this point, I have been since Shishkin made that slight mistake down the back, and it's now on who jumps the last better and lands with all the momentum.
3,2,1, Townend and Energumene take off in front, two lengths the gap back to Shishkin, but he lands flat footed for the first time in the race and Shishkin lands slightly better and all the jumping has now been done, and these two can now battle it out on the run in.
300 yards to go, Boinville driving away at Shishkin, trying to get his mount to close the deficit, and with every stride now he's starting to do that, and reel in his rival who looks like he's starting to need the line now.
200 yards to go, Townend is clinging onto the rails and the lead for that matter now, Boinville now getting on top with Shishkin and looking as though he might get rewarded for all his efforts that he's tried so hard for over the past 1/4 of a mile.
100 yards to go, Energumene has nothing more to give, Townend senses that 2nd place might be all he's going to be filling now because Shishkin isn't for stopping up the middle of the track.
50 yards to go and it's all over, Shishkin has hit the front and goes on from Energumene now and sees it out until the line to win by a length, a margin which still doesn't really give justice to just how good this race was from start to finish.
The jockeys hug each other afterwards, both knowing that they had just been involved in a classic, and knowing that this was just going to be the start of what seems to be a rivalry that's around for the next few seasons.
So, Shishkin wins then, Energumene loses nothing in defeat, and it's quite simple now really isn't it? Who's ready for the rematch at Cheltenham?
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