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.

I fancy that Banbridge may well have run him down that day had he not taken a tumble at the last obstacle. That form received a huge shot in the arm though when the last named landed the King George at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

However, there can be little doubt that the Irish raider would prefer a deal more give in the ground, and I think that Paul Townend will have to ride him very aggressively to try and blunt the finishing speed out of Jonbon.

But that in turn may well bring the outsider BOOTHILL into play, having only finished a length-and-a-half off the Nicky Henderson-trained runner at Cheltenham.

Ascot is very much a home course for the big priced selection and the drying ground is also a big bonus. If he were to put in a clear round, I think he could mow down his rivals over the last two fences down the short home stretch.

There are several tough handicaps on the card at the Berkshire track, none more so than the Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle at 2.50 — when 14 will go to post with the betting likely to be headed by Harry Fry’s relatively lightly raced Altobelli.

He has the cheek pieces on for the first time here and should take another step forward, following a cracking comeback run behind Jungle Jack at Doncaster last month.

I may well have a saver on the seven-year-old, who has run really well here in the past (a length-and-a-half off Luccia in 2023), but an even better each-way value play could be on ASTON MARTINI.

This will be only the sixth hurdles start for the mare, who hit a flat spot at a crucial stage in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury before running on when the race was over.

Previously a cracking three-quarters-of-a-length second to Might I at Bangor with Freddie Gordon’s claim, she is set to run off just 120 here. Her light racing weight gets her the nod over the market leader and another outsider, Spirit d’Aunou. The Moore charge is becoming very nicely treated and is now 2lbs lower than for his last success for the yard.

The drying ground is also a massive plus for Kempton specialist Flegmatik (2.15), but his recent Ascot form has not been too shabby either over three miles here.

This is more his optimum trip, and he is fully 5lbs lower than for his last win over fences. This strong travelling type can make the most of the weight that he set to receive from the two horses at the top of the list, Hitman and Martator.

There is a disappointing turnout for the extended three-mile Handicap Chase at 1.05 and once again, from a handicapping and ground perspective, Kitty’s Light will be a popular choice.

However, I am going to wait until the spring months to back on this hold merchant on quicker ground and take PAT’S FANCY to cause a minor shock for Rebecca Curtis.

The now 10-year-old ran Bravemansgame to three-and-a-half lengths a few season’s back and went off at only 11/1 for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.

Since then, he has obviously had training problems/setbacks, but the fact that he has been kept in training speaks volumes and there was plenty to like about his comeback run at Chepstow after a 371-day absence.

Chase hero, Royal Pagaille, heads the weights for the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (Haydock, 2.30) and he will have his favoured ground to boot around a course and distance that has served him so well in the past, including a win off 163 in this very race in 2022.

However, a 3lbs higher rating here asks him to pull out a bit more against a field that has enough strength in depth and the percentage call simply has to be BILL BAXTER despite being slightly out of the weights.

Winner of the 2023 Topham Handicap Chase at Aintree off 133, the bottom weight here, lost his form throughout 2024. He finally seemed to discover some spark at Uttoxeter and Chepstow back over timber, and although he is rated considerably higher over fences — 2lbs out of the handicap here — he could well defy his massive odds if putting in a clean round of jumping.

Also at the Merseyside track have a second look at HEROS (first run for nearly a year for Venetia Williams) in the opening handicap chase at 12.10, while TINY TETLEY can make his lightweight tell in what is sure to be deep- and stamina-sapping ground by outstaying the four-time seeking Kilbarry Hill in the three-mile handicap hurdle at 3.05.

Finally, on the all-weather at Wolverhampton under the lights, ROGUE RAIDER may be able to cause a big shock stepping up to two miles for the first time at 6.00, while SPANISH ANGEL is reunited with James Sullivan for a very winnable class six, five-furlong handicap, due off at 7.00.